Burnham Rules Out Coalition With Green Party Over 'Zionism is Racism' Motion

Andy Burnham has declared that the Labour Party will not enter into a coalition with the Green Party while the latter maintains a policy that defines Zionism as a form of racism. Burnham, speaking in the House of Commons, unequivocally condemned the motion passed by Green Party members as "wrong" and "antisemitic," stating that Labour would "have nothing to do with it."

The controversial motion, which passed at the Green Party conference, asserted that Zionism is an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state in historic Palestine, to the exclusion or domination of the non-Jewish population. The policy drew criticism from various Jewish groups, as well as from four Green MPs and two former party leaders, one of whom described it as "dangerous" and "divisive."

Green Party leader Zack Polanski characterized the motion as "imperfect" and expressed a desire for amendments. However, he defended the portion of the motion arguing that "the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people is clearly underpinned by racist ideology" as "obvious," despite Israel's repeated denials of its actions in Gaza amounting to genocide.

While the motion has become party policy, its inclusion in the Green Party's manifesto for the next general election remains uncertain. The issue was raised during Prime Minister's Questions by Conservative MP Dame Harriett Baldwin, who urged Burnham to "rule out co-operating" with the Green Party. Burnham responded by stating, "We will always take the right response when it comes to any partnerships we have with other parties" and affirmed that Labour "cannot support a partnership with a party that holds the position that has recently been adopted."

Labour and the Green Party currently share power in coalitions on several local councils, including Sheffield. A Downing Street spokesperson declined to clarify whether the Prime Minister's stance applied only to national government partnerships or also extended to local government levels.

The adoption of the motion has spurred calls from within the Green Party for procedural reforms. MP Ellie Chowns commented to the BBC that the policy's approval, by a vote of 1,022 to 813 among members – representing a small fraction of the party's 230,000 members – indicated flaws in the party's policy-making structures.

Lubna Speitan, a key proponent of the motion, defended its intent, stating it aimed to oppose "racist systems of oppression" and that the party "stand[s] united against all forms of racism and discrimination - no exemptions."