Polanski backs 99% of candidates amid social posts
LDRSGreen Party leader Zack Polanski said he has confidence in "99%" of his candidates, after accusations of antisemitic comments made by some local election hopefuls.
The candidates are standing for seats on Newcastle City Council but have been criticised for posts published on social media.
During a visit to Newcastle earlier, Polanski said he condemned anti-semitisim, but it was "really important that we do not conflate genuine antisemitism with legitimate criticism" of the Israeli government.
The Green Party leader added he would not comment on or interfere in specific cases going through a disciplinary process.
One post from Dr Philip Brookes, who is standing in the Manor Park ward, included an image which branded Israel "a bunch of Polish, Russian, Hungarian terrorists killing Palestinian people for 76 years".
His Facebook account also published an image of an Israel flag being torn to reveal a Nazi swastika flag, and in a post about the war in Gaza said it "takes serious effort not to be a tiny bit antisemitic".
On Mohammed Suleman's account, who is standing as a candidate in Arthur's Hill, a TikTok video was reposted which claimed Jewish prisoners of war were willing to bury Soviet prisoners alive under Nazi instruction during World War Two.
No 'big scandal'
Polanski told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It is important to say that I condemn whenever there has been any antisemintism - I do that both as a policitcal leader, but also as someone who is Jewish.
"It is really important that we do not conflate genuine antisemitism with legitimate criticism of an Israeli government which is committing war crimes, I think that is really important."
The Green Party leader said "we will take those very seriously" people's complaints.
"Where you have 4,500 candidates, to have a handful of cases I would say is not some kind of big scandal," Polanski said.
"I am confident that in the vast majority, of 99%, of cases that is exactly what has happened."
Public buses
At Eldon Square bus station, Polanski also called for faster and further action to return the North East's buses to public control and make bus travel free for those aged under 22.
Labour's North East Mayor Kim McGuinness is already planning a takeover of the region's bus routes, fares and timetables under her promised Angel network.
However, the first services under her proposed franchise are not expected to run until autumn 2029, and Polanski said the government needed to make quicker progress.
"Poor bus connectivity costs the UK economy up to £23bn and every pound we put into bus services brings £4.50 back into the local economy," he said.
"What we get, no matter who the Labour councillor or Labour mayor is, is a Labour government that has committed to austerity.
"We had 14 years of Conservative austerity and lots of people voted Labour at a national level and a local level because they wanted change.
"But, far too often, we are not getting the change we need."
McGuinness said she was "delighted to see the Green Party leader come to the North East to announce what Labour are already doing here".
"I got started with this on my first day as mayor and we are getting on with delivering for local people here and now," she said.
