The key facts
- Labour gave local Green groups seven days to disown the policy adopted at the GPEW conference
- The ultimatum covers 18 councils where the parties share power, including Sheffield, Lewes and Warwick
- Four of five Green MPs criticise the policy; the two deputy leaders are split
Labour's ultimatum
The Labour Party has announced it will end power-sharing agreements with the Green Party of England and Wales at local level unless its councillors disown the recently adopted policy stating that Zionism is a form of racism. The party gave local Green groups seven days to confirm their rejection of the policy. The ultimatum covers 18 councils where Labour shares power with the Greens directly or as part of broader coalitions, including Sheffield, Lewes and Warwick. Labour is demanding that local groups send the Greens letters demanding 'clear and unambiguous' statements rejecting the policy, and is also calling on the party's national leadership to reconsider it. Party chair Bridget Phillipson said: 'If they cannot give such assurances, the Labour Party will end any such local arrangements.'
The substance of the Green policy
The policy was approved by party members at the conference. The resolution stated that Zionism is an ideology supporting an 'ethno-nationalist Jewish state' which has led to the 'dispossession and destruction' of Palestinians. It also backed the creation of 'a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine', including present-day Israel. The resolution provoked a negative reaction from Jewish groups and criticism from senior Green figures, including four of the party's five MPs.
Positions within the Greens
Green leader Zack Polanski missed the conference vote, being unsuccessfully engaged in a Westminster by-election. He said he wants to see the 'flawed' resolution changed in future, but at the same time said that 'the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people is clearly fuelled by a racist ideology', calling this an 'essential part' of the resolution. Israel denies committing genocide in Gaza. The party's two deputy leaders disagreed: Mothin Ali supported the resolution, while Rachel Millward voted against it.
Reaction and exchange of accusations
On Wednesday, Premier Andy Burnham told MPs that Labour would not cooperate with the Greens because of their 'antisemitic' policy, although Downing Street did not clarify what this means for local government. Polanski responded: 'I am the only Jewish leader of a political party. I myself experience antisemitism on a daily basis, and I have made clear that Jews are welcome in my party.' A Green spokesperson said: 'For the Labour government to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism is disappointing and wrong,' adding that 'trying to dictate to local parties what to do and who to work with is undemocratic.'
Labour backed by Jewish organisations
The Board of Deputies of British Jews — the UK's largest cross-communal Jewish organisation — welcomed Labour's announcement. Board vice-president Karen Newman called the Greens' platform 'antisemitic' and said: 'This is the commitment we have been seeking, and we call on other major parties to take the same clear and principled stance.' According to the BBC, national parties control local groups differently: Labour requires National Executive Committee approval for local agreements, and under party rules local groups must 'exit' agreements at the request of the regional office. The Greens, by contrast, allow local groups to decide the question of power-sharing themselves.
Image source, Getty Images
Sheffield is one of the areas where Labour currently shares power with the Greens
