Labour ends council deals with Greens over party's Israel policy
Labour has cut ties with Green party groups in eleven local authorities across England following an ultimatum over a controversial conference motion.
At a glance
- Labour has ended local government cooperation with Green groups in 11 English councils.
- The move follows a refusal by those local Green groups to condemn a recent party conference motion stating Zionism is racism.
- Agreements will remain in place in six council areas where local Greens have disavowed the motion.
- The Green party expressed disappointment, stating national parties are disrupting successful local partnerships.
The Labour party has ended cooperation with Green party groups in eleven councils across England after local politicians failed to meet an ultimatum regarding a controversial conference motion. Labour chair Bridget Phillipson stated that the policy, which defines Zionism as racism and calls for a single Palestinian state, crossed a line.
The decision impacts power-sharing arrangements in areas such as Sheffield, Stafford, and Arun, though deals will continue in six other locations where local Green groups have rejected the motion. Labour previously demanded that local agreements be reviewed unless the policy was formally disowned.
Response from the Green party
In a joint statement, the Green party and the Local Government Association Green group expressed strong disappointment over the decision. They argued that national party leaderships were forcing local leaders to jeopardize effective progressive partnerships that benefit local residents.
The Greens also stated that the ultimatums ignored the judgments of local leaders and failed to respect choices made by local voters. The party previously defended its internal processes by noting that policy is decided by members under direct democracy rules.
Broader political impact
The rupture in local coalitions highlights ongoing tensions within the Green party following the conference vote, which was passed by a small fraction of the total membership. While some senior figures, including former co-leader Adrian Ramsay, urged local parties to renounce the motion, other figures resisted outside pressure. Meanwhile, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has sought further information on the motion to assess its potential impact.
What to watch: Watch for further statements from the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding its assessment of the Green party motion.
Reporting from: The Guardian. Spotted an error? Tell us.
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