Zack Polanski, a member of the Green Party’s executive committee in England and Wales, asked the party to delay its annual conference in order to focus on the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras byelection. However, the request was denied. While party officials said the formal proposal came from staff worried about how to best use limited resources, it is understood that Polanski himself wanted the postponement. The executive committee, which includes around 25 voting members, voted against the plan on Thursday. The party expects up to 3,000 people to attend the event, which will be its largest gathering and is scheduled to take place in Brighton starting on 2 October. Canceling the conference at such short notice would have been costly, as the Greens had already rented a venue. It would also have upset members who had taken time off work and made travel arrangements. The byelection, which Polanski hopes to contest in a seat traditionally held by Labour, is set for 8 October—just four days after the conference ends. Typically, the final days of a byelection campaign are crucial for parties to engage as many voters as possible. Having thousands of the Greens’ most active members elsewhere during this time would make it harder to carry out an effective campaign. Some within the Greens have speculated that Polanski might have wanted to run for the byelection before the party debates a controversial policy motion at the conference. This motion, which has topped the list of policy issues to be discussed, would equate Zionism—the movement for a Jewish state in Palestine—with racism and call for a single Palestinian state. If passed, the motion could lead to disciplinary action against members who support Zionism, raising concerns that it might alienate Jewish supporters. Polanski, who is Jewish, has not publicly commented on the motion but is believed to support amendments that would soften the language of the proposal. A Green Party spokesperson said the party had considered various ways to manage resources while running a strong campaign in the byelection. However, after discussions, the party decided to proceed with both the byelection campaign and the conference. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of running an ambitious campaign in Holborn and St Pancras while also holding what is expected to be the Greens’ largest ever party conference.