Green Party may have been captured by ‘extremists and racists’, warns top party MP after Polanski skips crucial vote

THE GREENS may have been captured by “extremists and racists”, a senior party MP has warned. Zack Polanski’s party has been plunged into civil war after they passed a motion saying “Zionism is racism” – effectively demanding the end of the Israeli state. Mr Polanski is facing questions over his leadership after he skipped the crucial vote – and then failed to win the Kings Cross St Pancras by-election. Green MP Ellie Chowns slammed Mr Polanski’s “lack of leadership” in an interview with the BBC. Asked repeatedly if the party had been taken over by racists , she said: “I don’t know if there are extremists and racists in my party, but I want to make sure that my party isn’t vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists. “I want to make sure that my party’s policies represent the views of the majority of members of the Green Party who absolutely are not that sort of person at all.” Read More on Politics Mr Polanski has repeatedly refused to say he would have voted against the motion and said it is up to members if he stays as leader. “What I’m experiencing, though, is an immense amount of people who are saying actually they’ve never been prouder to be a Green Party member.” Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey is also facing a plot to oust him after frontbencher Charlie Maynard quit as Treasury spokesman in a bid to launch a leadership challenge. A Lib Dem insider said: “Ed may see this challenge off but it is probably the beginning of the end. Most read in The Sun “He is on a clock now. If someone better challenged him they would win in a second. But an ally of Sir Ed insisted he is going nowhere saying: “Ed is fired up and focused on the next General Election.” The party civil wars mean both the Greens and Lib Dems could face leadership contests before the next election.