Zack Polanski was facing growing pressure to sack a senior Green councillor in London who called David Lammy a “coconut”.
Hau-Yu Tam, Deputy Leader of the Lewisham Green Group, was heavily criticised for her attack on Deputy Prime Minister Mr Lammy.
Tottenham MP Mr Lammy was reported in The Telegraph to have told Cabinet that a family member should not be on benefits.
Cllr Tam messaged on X: “It’s reminiscent of Priti Patel admitting her family wouldn’t get in under her own immigration rules, but somehow even more callous.
“These coconuts.”
The post has since been deleted.
Abena Oppong-Asare, Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead, said: “Cllr Hau-Yu Tam’s use of the term ‘coconut’ is completely unacceptable.
“It is a racist slur that has long been used to suggest someone is ‘not really’ part of their own community - reducing identity to the colour of their skin and policing who does and doesn’t belong. That kind of language is divisive and has no place in our politics.”
She added: “Zack Polanski hasn’t condemned it. Instead, he’s backed her and even platformed her at the Green Party launch. That speaks volumes. He should now do the right thing and suspend her from the party.
“Lewisham deserves better. Someone who uses racist language like this is not fit to represent local people.”
Highlighting the comment by Cllr Tam and some other Green candidates, Labour chair Anna Turley added: “If these candidates are not sacked, and their party membership revoked, voters will conclude that the Green Party shares their values.”
A Green Party spokesperson said: "These comments do not reflect the views of the Green Party and these posts were deleted.”
The row erupted as the Greens are set to win hundreds of seats in London at the local elections, according to experts, with Labour facing losing some 600, or around half of what they currently hold in the capital.
A new poll suggested Mr Polanski’s party could also get 12 MPs in London at the next general election.
Last week the Greens also scored a shock victory in a Kent County Council by-election, defeating Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
The Greens are on course to make major gains in Inner London at the local elections in less than a month’s time, with Reform expected to win hundreds of seats, mainly in Outer London.
The Conservatives could win back control of Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet councils, lost to Labour in 2022, the last time the borough elections were fought.
