Green Party condemns terror inflicted on Belfast by “far right thugs”


/ by Green Party

Commenting on the violence that swept through Belfast in the wake of the brutal stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie, the deputy leader of the Green Party, Rachel Millward, said:

“Last night we saw a wave of appalling violence sweep across Belfast, leaving people homeless as their homes were burned, and communities terrified as migrants and people of colour were made targets by far right thugs.

“Racist violence is becoming more and more common on our streets. This is a rising threat and cannot be ignored. Decades of neglect of our communities have left people angry and frustrated – and callous politicians have taken advantage of deep-seated frustrations to point the finger of blame at migrants.

“Indeed, in the midst of this unrest, Reform’s Zia Yusuf tweeted ‘some cultures are MUCH better than others.’ He has also disgracefully called for a ban on visas for anyone coming from Sudan – a country where there is currently an ongoing genocide.

“Meanwhile tech billionaire Elon Musk is using his support for extreme right wing party Restore to whip up hatred among communities here in the UK. It’s a terrifying situation.

“Sadly, for too long, instead of taking on these dangerous lies, those in power have implicitly backed them. From dogwhistle speeches echoing racists like Enoch Powell to the performative cruelty of stripping rights away from migrants who have made this county their home – this government has failed to stand up to the insidious, racist poison injected into the political bloodstream by parties of the far right.

“These horrific scenes must be a wake-up call. Instead of using division to further political aims, politicians of all stripes have a responsibility to do everything we can to bring communities together. We must turn the page today – otherwise we will only see the violence spread.”

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Zack Polanski calls on Sadiq Khan and Yvette Cooper to cancel ‘obscene’ and illegal sale of settlements on Palestinian land

Dear Yvette and Sadiq,  

On 14 June, the ‘Great Israeli Real Estate’ event is due to come to London to auction stolen  Palestinian land to the highest bidder. The event proudly promotes the sale of land in settlements like ‘Gush Etzion’ in the occupied West Bank, marked as illegal under international law. [1]

Theresa May’s Conservative government in 2016 acknowledged the illegality of the very same settlement under international law and urged the Israeli government to ‘reverse its policy’ towards illegal settlements. [2] The event’s website explicitly indicates that it is collaborating with Bank Leumi, an Israeli bank which has been identified by the UN for facilitating the expansion of illegal settlements by routinely providing loans to construction projects in the occupied West Bank. [3]

It’s obscene that the UK will be playing host to an event openly advertising the sale of land in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, especially while horrific settler violence against Palestinians is on the rise. 

Amnesty International UK has condemned the event as ‘apartheid and annexation with a sales pitch’ and called on the government to ‘take immediate action to prevent it from going ahead’. 

Against the backdrop of increased state-backed settler violence, there is no justification for the UK government to allow events that encourage the expansion of settlements. The event also promotes the sale of land throughout historic Palestine, in cities and towns built on the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. For over 100 years, such sales have contributed to the fragmentation and dispossession of the Palestinian people. 

Many Londoners are rightfully concerned that an event promoting land confiscation and the destruction of homes is set to take place in our city. Sadiq, you have previously stood with campaigners and Londoners of conscience in condemning the DSEI arms fair, and I welcomed your leadership on that issue.[4] I ask that you now take the same principled stance against this proposed land sale, which would be a stain on our city if allowed to proceed. 

Yvette, your government has a moral and legal responsibility to take action against illegal settlements. This must include banning the import of settlement goods and imposing further sanctions on all Israeli Government officials responsible for authorising illegal settlements. Empty condemnation is not enough – we need to see action. 

Yours Sincerely,

Zack Polanski
Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales 

[1] https://israelevent2026.com/ 
[2] https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2016-02-23/28111 
[3] https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/05/29/bankrolling-abuse/israeli-banks-west-bank-settlements 
[4] https://www.itv.com/news/london/2025-09-02/mayor-appalled-as-london-is-used-as-marketplace-for-weapon-traders

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Food system ‘close to collapse,’ Polanski warns as figures show costs to rise 170% by 2050

In a speech to the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union today, Green Party leader Zack Polanski will warn that food insecurity is not a ‘distant threat’ and is already impacting customers, farmers and workers in the food industry. Warning that the UK’s food system is ‘close to collapse’ under pressure from rising temperatures and global instability, Polanski will call for urgent action to support the UK’s food resilience. 

The speech comes as figures from the Autonomy Institute show that UK fruit and veg prices could rise 170% by 2050, with the climate crisis set to become the leading driver of fresh produce inflation in the UK.

Speaking at the union’s keynote address, Polanski will accuse the government of ‘just not getting it’ when it comes to the crisis facing the UK’s food system and call for government to produce a real plan to boost British food production and support customers struggling to afford food. 

Last week, Green MP Adrian Ramsay challenged Ministers in Parliament over two suppressed Government-commissioned reports warning of serious risks to the UK’s national security, including ecosystem collapse, biodiversity loss, food security and water supplies.

He will call for: 

  • Support for farmers to adapt their practises to a changing climate to make UK food growing more resilient 
  • Stronger regulation of supermarkets to ensure farmers get a fair deal for their produce 
  • Free school meals for all primary and secondary pupils to support families struggling to put food on the table
  • A £15/hour minimum wage for all workers to tackle the cost of living crisis.

Polanski will say: 

“Just a couple of weeks ago, we saw the hottest May day ever recorded in the UK. By the beginning of May, the UK had received received 23% less rain than average. The Climate Change Committee warns that within 25 years we could see temperatures above 40°C.

“That doesn’t just mean more people getting sick from extreme heat, or more pressure on infrastructure that just isn’t built for these temperatures. As many of you in this room well know, it has terrifying implications for the most fundamental need we all have – food. 

“And right now, from food growers to customers – and everyone in between – the crisis is already making itself felt. 

“That’s something you all know well – and it’s time we started listening to you. 

“Because whether you get up at the crack of dawn to serve pasties to hungry commuters, spend hours rising dough, or work in rain or shine picking fruit – your work is what keeps this country moving. 

“But all too often, that fact is forgotten. Your work is sneered at, shrugged off, or taken for granted. 

“Your pay doesn’t match the importance of the work you do – and doesn’t keep up with your rising bills. Your hours get longer, you’re expected to work in increasingly hot or wet conditions, you’re on a precarious contract so you’re scared to take sick leave or have a day off to spend with your kids. 

“And all the while, when you go to the supermarket to put food on the table, the prices there are rising too – while the farmers that produced it aren’t being paid fairly either. 

“The system is broken. And under increasing strain from the climate crisis, it’s close to collapse.” 

Dr. Will Stronge, CEO at the Autonomy Institute, said:

“We have been cautious in our assumptions – looking only at heatwaves, and only against a stable inflation backdrop. The conclusion is still stark: within fifteen years, climate change will be the biggest single factor driving up the cost of fresh food. 

“Politicians cannot afford to wait and see. The time to build food resilience into our industrial strategy is now, before the pressures become acute.”

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“The UK must put an end to the impunity that has enabled and emboldened the Israeli Government” – Ellie Chowns reacts to Israel’s escalating military campaign in Lebanon


by Green Party

Reacting to Israel’s escalating action in Lebanon, Dr Ellie Chowns MP said:

“Israel’s escalating military campaign in Lebanon has already killed thousands of people, displaced more than a million from their homes, and destroyed vital infrastructure, displaying an indefensible disregard for civilian lives and international law.

“This cannot continue. The UK must put an end to the impunity that has enabled and emboldened the Israeli Government on the world stage. The Green Party repeats our calls for the UK Government to end all arms sales to and military cooperation with Israel, to drive independent investigations into war crimes and support justice mechanisms for victims, and to impose sanctions on Netanyahu and all other government officials responsible for breaches of international law.

“The people of Lebanon – like the people of Palestine, Iran, and Israel – deserve to live in safety and peace, not to have their human rights used as bargaining chips which can be disregarded without consequence. The UK must stand on the side of international law and justice, and act now to help prevent further atrocity.”

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“The UK Government must act immediately” – Ellie Chowns responds to Netanyahu’s orders to seize 70% of Gaza Strip


/ by Green Party

Responding to reports that Benjamin Netanyahu has given orders to the Israeli army to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip, Dr Ellie Chowns MP said:

“Netanyahu’s directive to expand Israeli military control over 70% of the Gaza Strip is horrifying, constituting a grave breach of the ceasefire if carried out and a blatant disregard for the rights and lives of Palestinian civilians already enduring unimaginable suffering.

“This plan will not serve to strengthen the path to security or peace in the region. It will only drive yet more families from their homes, further restrict the delivery of aid, and deepen a humanitarian crisis in a territory already devastated by war, famine, and genocide. The people of Gaza cannot be squeezed into an ever-smaller space and expected to survive without proper access to food, water, shelter, and medical care.

“The UK Government must act immediately: unequivocally condemn any attempt to seize more territory or ethnically cleanse Gaza, insist on full compliance with the ceasefire and international law, and demand unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza at scale. It must also halt all arms sales to and military cooperation with the Israeli Government, drive independent investigations into war crimes, and impose sanctions on government officials responsible for breaches of international law.

“The continued expansion of military control and the forced displacement of Palestinians cannot be allowed to become normalised. The UK must stand up for international law, human rights, and the protection of civilians – not further impunity for perpetrators of war crimes.”

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