The Labour Party has ended power-sharing agreements with the Green Party in 11 local councils after the national Green Party adopted a policy defining Zionism as a form of racism. Labour councillors will no longer be in coalition with the Greens in areas including Sheffield, Warwick and Lewes.
Policy Breaks Partnership
Bridget Phillipson MP, Chair of the Labour Party, said: "Labour has been clear from the start that the 'Zionism is Racism' policy crosses a line and we cannot work with any party that supports it – at any level of government."
Green Party members in October backed a motion, entitled "Zionism is racism", which said Zionism was an ideology that supported an "ethnonationalist Jewish State in historic Palestine". The motion also backed a "single democratic Palestinian State", including in modern-day Israel.
Ultimatum and Response
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told MPs in October that Labour would not partner with the Greens over the "antisemitic" policy. Labour later issued an ultimatum from Labour's head office to Labour-Green councils, demanding that local Greens disown the motion passed by members at their national party conference.
Green groups were also asked to call on their party's "national leadership" to reconsider the policy. Labour said there were local agreements in place in 18 authorities. Of those, Labour said 11 had not met the criteria they demanded.
