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Widdecombe suspect had 'particular hostility to Reform', court told

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UK politics: Green MP Siân Berry says opponents of Zionism motion were ‘persuaded’ not to fight it because of byelection – as it happened
The MP says that passing the motion has done ‘genuine damage; to the party’s reputation Report: Labour wins Holborn and St Pancras byelection Analysis: defeat will disappoint Greens – but there may also be relief Activists in Camden have suggested the Greens’ decision to back the anti-Zionism motion has cost them votes in the byelection. Councillors for both Labour the Liberal Democrats told the Press Association that voters had informed them they would not be backing the Green party after it passed the motion last weekend calling Zionism racism. It is clear now we will come a close second in this by-election. Taking the fight to Labour in one of its safest seats shows just how far the Greens have come. Voters want us to keep Labour’s feet to the fire on affordable housing, public ownership of water and the climate crisis. Greens will be there every single day, holding Labour to account

Lib Dem MP quits frontbench job over Ed Davey's leadership
Deputy party leader Daisy Cooper says "the vast majority of our MPs support Ed... and are furious at this distraction."

Polanski vows to stay as Green leader as he faces criticism after by-election defeat
Jewish Greens' leader has said Polanski should resign in the wake of a Zionism row and by-election defeat.

Robert Jenrick launches scathing broadside against ‘Kensington Kemi’
Reform UK economics spokesperson seeks to associate Tory leader with metropolitan elite as party relations sour further UK politics live – latest updates Robert Jenrick has launched an extended attack on Kemi Badenoch, calling her part of a metropolitan elite and saying a coalition deal with the Tories would be like being “handcuffed to a zombie”. Reform UK’s economics spokesperson repeatedly called the Tory leader “Kensington Kemi” and claimed her party was for people who moaned about the decline of Mayfair clubs and complained that they could not find Ottolenghi recipe ingredients in the shops. Continue reading...

Chair of Jewish Greens calls for Zack Polanski to resign after byelection loss
Vivien Lichtenstein urges party leader to quit over ‘Zionism is racism’ policy – but could face no-confidence motion herself The chair of the Jewish Greens has called for Zack Polanski to step down as pressure increases on the Green leader to acknowledge anger within the party over a new policy that equates Zionism with racism and calls for the state of Israel to be abolished. The comments by Vivien Lichtenstein come after Caroline Lucas, the Greens’ former leader and first MP, criticised Polanski for a lack of leadership in missing the debate and vote at the weekend that resulted in the policy being passed. Continue reading...

Did the Zionism row lose it for Zack Polanski? – podcast
Zack Polanski has lost the Holborn and St Pancras byelection to Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali. Despite the Greens increasing their vote share from 2024, Polanski had the cloud of the ‘Zionism is racism’ row hanging over his head. Now there are questions over his leadership and whether he can steer the party through the ongoing Zionism row. Will the Greens remain a fringe party? You can watch this episode on the Politics Weekly YouTube channel here . Continue reading...