Labour Threatens Council Coalitions Over Green Party's 'Zionism is Racism' Motion

Labour is threatening to dissolve power-sharing agreements with the Green Party across England if local branches do not disavow a controversial motion passed at their recent Brighton conference. The motion, which called for Israel to be treated like apartheid South Africa and was described as a plan to destroy Israel, has prompted Labour to demand that Green Party counterparts reject the policy within seven days.

Bridget Phillipson, Labour's chair, stated that if local Green groups cannot provide assurance that they reject the motion and will call on their national leadership to reconsider it, Labour will terminate any local arrangements. "This isn't an issue of party politics; it's about doing what is right and upholding the values anyone holding public office should share," Phillipson said. Labour Against Antisemitism expressed relief that their concerns had been heard.

This stance by Labour could lead to significant political upheaval in more than a dozen councils where Labour and Green parties currently have pacts or coalitions. Mail analysis indicates that if Labour withdraws from these agreements, nine of the 14 affected councils could see their ruling administrations collapse or become unworkable. Eleven of these councils would lose their current majorities, potentially opening the door for the Conservative, Liberal Democrat, or Reform parties.

Several councils are particularly vulnerable. In Sheffield, a Labour-led council with a Labour-Green majority coalition of 45 out of 84 seats would lose its governing majority if Labour withdraws, falling short of the 43 seats needed to govern. Similarly, in Lewes, Labour props up a Green-led council with a majority of 26 out of 41 seats. Without Labour's eight councillors, the Greens, with 18 seats, would be unable to form a majority and would need to seek new arrangements with other parties.

Warwick's Green-led council, currently supported by Labour in a minority coalition of 22 out of 45 seats, would also see its administration effectively break apart. Removing Labour's seven councillors would leave the Greens with only 15 seats, necessitating a new agreement. In Forest of Dean, a Green minority administration relies on a confidence and supply arrangement with Labour. If Labour withdraws, the Green administration would lose guaranteed support, becoming less secure and potentially unable to pass its agenda without external backing.

Other councils facing potential instability include West Sussex, where a Liberal Democrat/Green/Labour/Independent coalition of 36 out of 70 seats would lose its majority if Labour leaves. Broadland, Havant, Arun, Derbyshire Dales, and West Oxfordshire are also identified as councils where Labour's withdrawal could destabilize existing majority coalitions, requiring new negotiations or potentially leading to minority administrations. Coventry, a Labour minority administration informally supported by the Greens, would lose dependable Green support, potentially requiring other parties' backing to pass budgets. North Somerset faces a scenario where a Labour/Liberal Democrat/Green/Independent partnership would lose its outright majority, though the remaining partners would be close to retaining control. Oxford, with a Labour minority administration and a 'closer working' agreement with the Greens, might see less immediate structural change, but Labour would still need support from other groups for contested business. West Devon is noted as a council where Labour's withdrawal would have minimal impact due to the small number of Labour councillors involved in the existing coalition.