Green Party candidate's anti-Semitic posts ignite political firestorm and party backlash
A Green Party election candidate has sparked outrage after sharing a series of controversial social media posts. Clarissa Astor, who is married to Samantha Cameron’s step-brother, made claims about British police and posted images linked to Hamas and anti-Semitic tropes. The row has now drawn in the party’s co-leader, Zack Polanski, who was forced to apologise for his own remarks about officers. Astor, part of the wealthy Cotswolds ‘Chipping Norton set’, posted an AI-generated image of Princess Diana wearing a keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity. She also shared a doctored picture of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a Hitler-style moustache. In another post, she described British police as 'in the service of Zionism' and claimed they were 'under the control of Israel'.
She went further by sharing a propaganda image depicting a Hamas terrorist being kissed by an Israeli hostage. Astor also appeared to defend Hamas actions in a separate post. Writing about Jewish Israelis, she stated: 'The Zionists are the migrants who came to Palestine, and yes, they do have nuclear weapons.' The controversy widened when Green Party co-leader Zack Polanski shared a post criticising police officers at a pro-Palestine demonstration. After backlash, he deleted the message and issued an apology. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake then condemned the Greens as 'poisonous' and 'toxic to its core' over the incident. Astor’s posts included a photograph of female police officers at a pro-Palestine march, alongside claims that British law enforcement was biased. The remarks have drawn widespread condemnation, with critics accusing her of spreading divisive and inflammatory content.
The Green Party now faces pressure to address the fallout from Astor’s posts and Polanski’s apology. The incident has reignited debates over political rhetoric and social media conduct. Conservative figures have used the episode to criticise the party’s stance on policing and extremism.
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