Brief
Labour threatens to end local coalitions with Greens over Zionism motion
Labour gives Greens seven days to repudiate a controversial Zionism motion, or risk losing coalition agreements in 18 councils.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Labour announced it will terminate power‑sharing arrangements with Green Party groups on 18 local councils unless the Greens formally reject a "Zionism is Racism" motion passed at the party’s recent conference. The ultimatum, issued on 15 October, gives the Greens seven days to provide written assurances, according to a statement from Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson.
What happened
All Labour council groups currently in coalition or other arrangements with the Greens have been instructed to write to their Green partners seeking a clear rejection of the motion. If no response is received by the deadline, Labour says it will end the local partnership. The move will affect 17 councils in England and one in Wales.
What the reports add
The Standard reports that Labour’s demand is framed as a matter of “upholding the values anyone holding public office should share,” and cites Phillipson’s comment that the issue is not about party politics but about right‑wing antisemitism. The article also notes that Prime Minister Andy Burnham, speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, said he condemned the motion “unequivocally” and would not support a partnership with the Greens while it remains in place.
What was said
Bridget Phillipson told the party: “Where local Labour parties currently have an arrangement with the Greens … we expect their Green counterparts to make clear that they reject this position.” Burnham added: “It is wrong, it is antisemitic, and this side of the House will have nothing to do with it.” A Green Party spokesperson responded that Labour’s approach was “undemocratic” and that “conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism is disappointing and wrong.”
How it came about
The dispute follows a motion adopted at the Green Party conference in Brighton that defined Zionism as an ethnonationalist Jewish state and labelled it racist. The motion has been widely criticised as antisemitic, prompting Labour’s leadership to act to protect its own anti‑antisemitism standards.
Key facts
- Labour will end local coalitions with Greens unless they reject the Zionism motion. (standard.co.uk)
- The ultimatum applies to 17 councils in England and one in Wales. (standard.co.uk)
- Labour gave the Greens seven days to provide written assurances. (standard.co.uk)
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he condemned the motion unequivocally. (standard.co.uk)
- A Green Party spokesperson called Labour's demand undemocratic. (standard.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] standard.co.uk — originally reported as “Labour to end local coalitions with Greens if they do not condemn Zionism policy”
