Labour Threatens to End Green Party Coalitions Over Zionism Policy

Labour has declared it will terminate power-sharing agreements with the Green Party on local councils if Green councillors do not publicly disown the party's newly adopted policy that equates Zionism with racism. The ultimatum, issued by Labour's chair Bridget Phillipson, requires local Green groups to provide clear and unambiguous statements rejecting the policy within seven days.

This decision impacts 19 councils across England and Wales where Labour currently shares power with the Greens, either directly or as part of broader coalitions. Labour's ultimatum also calls on local Green groups to urge their national leadership to reconsider the controversial policy.

The policy in question was approved by Green Party members at their recent conference. The motion stated that Zionism is an ideology supporting an "ethnonationalist Jewish state" that has resulted in the "disenfranchisement and destruction" of Palestinians. It further advocated for a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine," a territory that includes modern-day Israel.

This stance has drawn criticism from various Jewish groups and several senior Green Party figures, including four of the party's five Members of Parliament. Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who was not present for the conference vote, acknowledged that the motion was "imperfect" and hoped for future amendments. However, he also stated that "the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people is clearly underpinned by racist ideology," which he considers the "substantial part" of the motion. Israel has denied committing genocide in Gaza.

The Green Party has responded to Labour's ultimatum by calling the accusation of conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism "disappointing and wrong." A spokesperson for the Green Party stated that it is "undemocratic" for the Labour Party to dictate to local parties and their alliances.

Labour's national executive committee must approve local coalition arrangements, and the party's rulebook allows regional offices to direct local groups to stand down from power-sharing arrangements. In contrast, the Green Party of England and Wales permits its local branches to make independent decisions regarding coalition governance.

This dispute comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a leading figure in the Labour Party, told MPs that Labour would not partner with the Greens over the policy, which he described as "antisemitic." While Downing Street did not immediately confirm the implications for local government, Labour's national directive clarifies the party's position.