Zack Polanski condemned by former Green leaders over motion defining Zionism as racism
Zack Polanski has been condemned by two former leaders of the Green Party over his motion to define Zionism as racism.
Caroline Lucas, who made history in 2010 by becoming the first-ever Green Party MP, and Adrian Ramsay, who became the party's first male MP after winning the newly created Waveney Valley constituency at the 2024 general election, both criticised the proposals.
The motion titled "Zionism is Racism" has taken centre stage at the party’s conference in Brighton this weekend.
If passed by members, the Greens' official party policy will describe the movement that led to the creation of Israel as a Jewish state as racist.
Ms Lucas told the BBC: "I do have serious concerns about this motion.
"There is no single definition of Zionism, and irrespective of the intentions of the people who put that motion forward, I think there is a real risk that it’ll be divisive and could be seen as a sign that Jewish people aren’t welcome in the party. I will not be supporting it for that reason."
Mr Ramsay told The Times: "The Green Party has a strong position already on challenging the government and I think it would just be wrong to adopt a policy that could be seen as not supporting the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to statehood.
"I stand by the position the Green Party had in the 2024 manifesto, on which I was elected which made clear we want to see equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians."
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Labour clamps down on access to chemicals found in Southport murderer's home
Labour has clamped down on access to one of the chemicals found in the home of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana
Ricin, which is 6,000 times more poisonous than cyanide, was found when police raided the Rudakubana household.
The biological toxin was found in a sealed food container under Rudakubana’s bed, which experts said he made using equipment in his bedroom.
Ricin is produced naturally by the castor bean plant and is already strictly controlled, but the seeds used to produce it can be bought for use in gardening and decoration.
Labour wants to add castor beans containing ricin and rosary peas containing abrin to the list of regulated poisons under UK law.
This would make it a criminal offence to sell them to anyone without a licence.
'Welfare Party' row deepens as Labour seats scoop up three quarters of massive £12billion benefits splurge
Labour constituencies have been handed three-quarters of a £12billion rise in benefits spending since the General Election, new analysis has revealed.
In what will only add fuel to the Tories' warnings that Labour has turned into the "Welfare Party", the research reveals how Andy Burnham's party hoovers up an outsized share of the country's ballooning benefits bill.
The TaxPayers' Alliance has found that 72 per cent of the £12.1billion increase in total benefits since the election - or £8.8billion - went to seats represented by Labour MPs.
But Labour MPs only represent 65 per cent of English and Welsh Commons seats.
The organisation's research also revealed the top 10 constituencies with the highest splurge are all Labour-held.
Zack Polanski to call for triple lock-style guarantee for private renters at Green Party Conference
Zack Polanski is expected to call for a triple lock-style guarantee for private renters at his party’s annual conference, to ease young adults’ housing costs.
The Green Party leader is due to speak at the gathering in Brighton today, where he will call for an end to "fear and uncertainty" in the rental market.
Mr Polanski is expected to say: "For too long, landlords have been able to hike prices way beyond wages."
He will describe "25-year-olds who can’t find a job, no matter how many tens or hundreds of applications they put in, who can’t imagine ever being able to afford to rent even a room of their own, never mind being able to put down roots in their own home”.
The party leader will also describe "30, 35-year-olds moving back to their parents’ place with their partners in tow, sometimes their kids too”, warning that for many of them "times get tougher and those months turn to years".
Mr Polanski is expected to say: "Today I’m calling for a three-year emergency brake on private rents – no rent rises above CPI, wage growth or 2 per cent – whichever is lower.
"No sudden hikes, no evictions under the guise of rent rises, no more fear and uncertainty.
"That emergency brake would give renters vital breathing space.
"Let wages begin to catch up with the rents that have outstripped them for too long.
"And give government time to develop a national fair rents guarantee – to keep rents fair and affordable for everyone, forever."
Andy Burnham urged to address "historic unfairness".and deliver a "new deal for Wales"
The Welsh First Minister will use his party conference to call on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to deliver a "new deal for Wales" including the devolution of further powers.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, is expected to tell party members in Llandudno today that he has written to Mr Burnham urging him to redress "historic unfairness".
It comes as Mr ap Iorwerth has increasingly pushed for Welsh independence in recent weeks.
Today he is expected to tell the Plaid Cymru conference that he has written to Mr Burnham to request the proposed "new deal for Wales".
Mr ap Iorwerth is expected to say: "A new deal to redress the historic unfairness of our fiscal and constitutional settlement and to put Wales on an equal footing with Scotland as a bare minimum.
"A new deal - the first of its kind - whereby a Welsh First Minister invites the UK Government to genuinely treat Wales not as a region of England but as a nation in its own right.
"A new deal to secure powers for a purpose. Not as an end in themselves but as a means of growing our economy and improving outcomes for everyone.
"It remains my hope that the Prime Minister will listen in a shared spirit that the respect agenda between the Welsh and UK governments must work both ways."
Robert Jenrick confronts brazen shoplifter in broad daylight
Reform UK's Robert Jenrick took the law into his own hands on the streets of Brixton after confronting a brazen shoplifter.
In the shocking footage, Mr Jenrick confronts a man who allegedly stole a bottled drink from a shop before making a break for it.
Confronting the man, the Newark MP asked: "I think you just nicked that, didn't you?"
As the man denied stealing the item, Mr Jenrick replied: "Well, we just watched you take it. Do you want to give it back?"
The would-be thief then agreed to take the drink back before walking away from Mr Jenrick and his team.
Chopper's Political Podcast episode 116: Suella Braverman
Sit back, pour yourself a drink and join GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope at his regular table, where he will discuss the latest insider political intrigue and gossip with everyone from pop stars to politicians.
Suella Braverman brands Andy Burnham's Brexit U-turn 'slap in the face to British patriots'
Suella Braverman has issued a damning verdict on Andy Burnham's suggestion that Britain could "go all the way" and rejoin the EU.
Speaking to Katherine Forster, GB News’ Chief Political Correspondent, on Chopper’s Political Podcast, Mrs Braverman said the Prime Minister has "never respected Brexit and he actually wants to undo it".
She slammed his words as "an affront to democracy" and "a slap in the face to British patriots".
Mrs Braverman, who also discussed her new book "Patriot: Empire, Betrayal & Hope" extensively in the podcast, is now Reform UK’s education, skills and equalities spokeswoman, and is still MP for Fareham and Waterlooville in Hampshire.
A former Tory big beast and Home Secretary under both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, she spectacularly defected to Reform in January, saying she felt like she’d "come home".
She explained: "When running for Parliament only a few months ago and seeking the support of the public, Andy Burnham was emphatic that no, he wouldn't reopen the Brexit debate and he would be respecting the referendum result. And we had to put that in the past and just move forward."
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