More than a dozen Labour MPs report Green Party to Police and EHRC over its ‘Zionism is racism’ policy

More than a dozen Labour MPs have reported the Green Party to Sussex Police and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) over its “Zionism is racism” policy, and are calling for police to investigate whether events at the Green Party conference were used “to direct or encourage hostility towards Jewish people”.

It comes after activists at the Green party’s annual conference voted by 1,022 to 813 to back the motion which has been slammed as racist and anti-semitic by Labour Party MPs as well as Jewish groups and has also exposed deep splits within the Green Party.

Before the conference, former leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay both issued statements saying they would be voting against it. Green Party leader Zack Polanski did not cast a vote.

Green Party MP and former co-leader Adrian Ramsay told LBC he’s “deeply saddened” by the Zionism stance that “doesn’t reflect long-standing Green principles”.

Now former Home Office Minister Mike Tapp took to X to say he, along with colleagues, has written to Sussex police about potential antisemitic offences being committed at the Green Party conference in Brighton and to the EHRC seeking an investigation into potential breaches of the equality act.

Their complaint centres on delegates chanting: “Say it loud, say it clear, Zionists are not welcome here.”

The letter states: “We believe the combination of the adopted policy categorising Zionism as racism, the reported rejection of protections for members affiliated with synagogues and Jewish organisations, and the reported exclusionary chanting provides substantial grounds for police scrutiny. We ask Sussex police to record this complaint, secure the relevant evidence, and assess whether a criminal investigation is warranted.”

It goes on to add:”Our concern is whether the term ‘Zionist’ was used, in this setting, to direct or encourage hostility towards Jewish people. The rejected safeguard (amendment) is particularly relevant because it specifically concerned synagogues and Jewish communal organisations.”

Among the MPs to have signed the letter are Mark Sewards MP, Luke Akehurst MP, Jess Asato MP, Jon Pearce MP, Rachel Blake MP and Claire Hazelgrove MP.