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

Labour is poised to dissolve power-sharing agreements with the Green Party in local councils across England if Green branches do not disavow a motion passed at their recent conference that calls Zionism racism. The ultimatum, issued by Labour's national leadership, gives local Green Party groups seven days to reject the policy, which has been described as a plan to destroy Israel and compared to apartheid South Africa.

This national stance follows Labour's decision, led by figures like Andy Burnham, to rule out national coalition talks with the Greens due to their new position. Bridget Phillipson, Labour's chairman, stated that if local Green parties cannot provide assurance that they reject the motion and will call on their national leadership to reconsider it, Labour will terminate any local arrangements. Phillipson emphasized that this decision is based on upholding shared values rather than party politics.

The potential breakdown of these local alliances could lead to significant political upheaval in more than a dozen councils where Labour and the Greens currently cooperate. According to an analysis by the Daily Mail, the withdrawal of Labour support could destabilize the governing arrangements in nine of the 14 affected councils. In eleven of these councils, the current majorities would be lost, potentially opening the door for the Conservative, Liberal Democrat, or Reform parties to gain control.

Several councils are identified as being particularly at risk:

• Sheffield: A Labour-led council with a Green majority coalition (45/84 seats) would lose its governing majority if Labour withdraws, falling short of the 43 seats needed to govern.
• Lewes: In this Green-led council, where Labour props up the administration with a Green/Labour majority coalition (26/41 seats), Labour's withdrawal would end the coalition. The Greens, with 18 seats, would need a new arrangement with the Liberal Democrats or independents to maintain control.
• Warwick: A Green/Labour minority coalition (22/45 seats) would effectively break apart if Labour leaves, leaving the Greens with only 15 seats and in need of a new partnership.
• Forest of Dean: A Green minority administration (15/38 seats) relies on a confidence and supply agreement with Labour. Labour's withdrawal would remove guaranteed support, making the administration's survival on key votes precarious.
• West Sussex: A broad 'rainbow' coalition of Liberal Democrats, Greens, Labour, and independents (36/70 seats) would lose its majority if Labour withdraws its five councillors, potentially triggering new negotiations.
• Broadland: A Liberal Democrat/Labour/Green majority coalition (25/47 seats) would lose its majority, possibly leading to a new minority administration, with the Conservatives as the largest single party.
• Havant: A Labour/Green/Liberal Democrat coalition (18/36 seats) would be reduced to 11 seats without Labour, necessitating new governing arrangements. Reform is the largest single party with 10 seats.
• Arun: A Labour/Liberal Democrat/Green/Independent coalition (33/54 seats) would lose its majority without Labour's eight councillors, potentially forcing the remaining partners to continue as a minority administration.
• Derbyshire Dales: A Liberal Democrat/Labour/Green majority coalition (22/35 seats) would lose its majority, potentially requiring the remaining partners to operate as a minority administration.
• West Oxfordshire: A Liberal Democrat/Labour/Green majority coalition (31/49 seats) would lose its majority, with the Liberal Democrats and Greens falling two seats short of the required majority.
• Coventry: Labour has a minority administration (24/54 seats) with informal Green support. Ending this arrangement would leave Labour needing support from other groups to pass budgets and contested business.
• North Somerset: A Labour/Liberal Democrat/Green/Independent partnership (35/50 seats) would lose its outright majority if Labour withdraws, but the remaining partners would have exactly half the seats, potentially allowing for continued, albeit modified, control.
• Oxford: Labour (20/48 seats) has a minority administration with an agreement for 'closer working' with the Greens. Ending this arrangement might not cause immediate structural change, but Labour would continue to need support from other groups.
• West Devon: A 'West Devon Alliance' coalition (21/31 seats) would see only a small impact from Labour's withdrawal of its single councillor, as the remaining partners would still hold a comfortable majority.

The motion in question, passed at the Green Party's conference in Brighton, equates Zionism with racism and calls for Israel to be treated like apartheid South Africa. Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali was reportedly a key advocate for the motion.