Labour threatens to end Green coalitions over Zionism policy

Summarised from 2 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 15 Oct, 13:51 · Archive

Labour will end power-sharing agreements with the Green Party on local councils unless councillors reject a newly adopted policy that Zionism is a form of racism.

Labour has threatened to end power-sharing agreements with the Green Party on local councils unless local Green groups disown the party's newly adopted policy that Zionism is a form of racism. All Labour council groups in coalition or power-sharing arrangements with the Greens have been asked to seek reassurances that their Green counterparts reject the motion and call on national Green leaders to reconsider it.

If the Greens do not respond within seven days, Labour will end the arrangements. The ultimatum affects between 17 and 19 councils across England and one in Wales. These include Sheffield, Lewes and Warwick, where Labour is directly in coalition with the Greens.

Labour chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said the move was not party politics but about upholding values and standards against antisemitism, which Labour had worked to address within its own party. The Greens responded by accusing Labour of meddling and arguing it would be undemocratic for one party to 'tell local parties what to do'. The Green policy motion, approved at party conference, argued Zionism supported an 'ethnonationalist Jewish state' and backed creation of a 'single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine'. It has been criticised by Jewish groups and by four of the Greens' five MPs.

How it is being reported

• Labour to end local coalitions with Greens if they do not condemn Zionism policyThe ultimatum will impact 18 councils across England and one in Wales.Evening Standard · 15 Oct, 14:33
• Labour to end local coalitions with Greens if they do not condemn Zionism policyThe ultimatum will impact 18 councils across England and one in Wales.Evening Standard · 15 Oct, 13:43
• Labour could end local coalitions with Greens over Zionism policyLabour says it will end power-sharing deals with councillors that do not disown the party's new stance.BBC Politics · 15 Oct, 13:34
• Labour to end local coalitions with Greens if they do not condemn Zionism policyThe ultimatum will impact 17 councils across England and one in Wales.Evening Standard · 15 Oct, 13:00
• Labour to end local coalitions with Greens if they do not condemn Zionism policyThe ultimatum will impact 17 councils across England and one in Wales.Evening Standard · 15 Oct, 11:41

In this story: Labour Party · Green Party · Bridget Phillipson · Zack Polanski · Sheffield · Lewes · Warwick

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