Labour Halts Local Alliances with Greens Over Zionism Vote

Labour will end its local government partnerships with the Green party in 11 English councils. The break in cooperation follows a demand by Labour for Green council groups to formally reject a recent party policy that states Zionism is racism.

The Labour party confirmed that deals will stop in Arun, Derbyshire Dales, Havant, Lewes, Sheffield, Stafford, Warwick, Wealden, West Devon, and West Suffolk. Cooperation in Runnymede council had already ceased due to the same policy dispute. Labour said it would continue working with Green groups in Broadland, Monmouthshire, North Somerset, Rother, West Oxfordshire, and West Sussex because those groups condemned the motion. The West of England mayoralty will also maintain its partnership, as the Labour mayor and Green deputy mayor have not opposed the deal.

The conflict began when the Greens passed the policy motion at their party conference last month. The motion rejects a two-state solution and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state with equal rights for all. It won just over 1,000 votes, a figure representing approximately 0.4% of the total party membership.

Bridget Phillipson, the Labour chair, stated that the motion crosses a line. She said Labour cannot work with any party that supports the policy at any level of government. Just over a fortnight ago, she instructed Labour groups to review their agreements with Green politicians. She ordered them to end the partnerships unless the Green groups rejected the motion.

Andy Burnham, the Labour leader, described the motion as antisemitic. This stance aligns with the position of four of the Greens' five Members of Parliament and former party leader Caroline Lucas, who have all criticized the policy. Adrian Ramsay, the former Green co-leader, has also called on local parties to renounce the policy. This puts him at odds with Zack Polanski, who leads the Greens in England and Wales.

The Green party responded to the Labour ultimatum with disappointment. In a joint statement with the Local Government Association Green group, the Greens said the move would jeopardize successful partnerships. They argued that national parties are forcing local leaders to disrupt arrangements that deliver benefits for residents. They noted that Green, Labour, independent, and Liberal Democrat councillors have worked together to provide stable local government.

The Greens said they would not take lectures from a Labour government that supplies arms to Israel. They maintain that policy is decided by party members under their direct democracy rules. The party stated that the move ignores the choices made by local voters and the judgments of local leaders.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to the Greens to seek more information about the motion. The commission aims to assess the practical implications and potential impact of the policy. Ramsay said on Sunday that the Greens must fix their internal democracy. He warned that a takeover by the hard left could occur, suggesting some new members might be more at home in other left-wing parties.

Phillipson said Labour continues to oppose the divisive policy. She called on the Green party to rescind it. She added that the Labour party worked to root out antisemitism within its own ranks to ensure it had no place in the party's politics.