The short version
- Labour has ordered local branches to terminate coalitions with the Green Party unless they explicitly reject a new policy labeling Zionism as racist.
- The dispute centers on a motion adopted by Green members that supports a single democratic state in historic Palestine and characterizes Zionism as an ethnonationalist ideology.
- Green leaders accuse Labour of undemocratic interference, while Labour cites the need to distance itself from what it describes as antisemitic positions.
The United Kingdom’s ruling Labour Party has issued a strict deadline to local Green Party groups, demanding they disavow a newly adopted policy equating Zionism with racism or face the dissolution of power-sharing agreements. This ultimatum affects nineteen local councils where Labour currently shares governance responsibilities with the Greens, either in direct coalition or as part of broader multi-party arrangements. The directive requires local Green councillors to provide clear and unambiguous statements rejecting the controversial motion within seven days.
The policy in question was approved by members of the Green Party of England and Wales at its recent annual conference. The motion describes Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state that has resulted in the disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians. It further advocates for the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state across all of historic Palestine, a territory that includes modern-day Israel. This stance has triggered significant backlash from Jewish organizations and drawn criticism from several senior figures within the Green Party itself.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the issue in Parliament, stating that Labour would not partner with the Greens over what he characterized as an antisemitic policy. While Downing Street did not immediately clarify the specific implications for local government structures at that time, the party’s leadership has since formalized its position. Bridget Phillipson, the chair of the Labour Party, announced that local Labour groups are instructed to write to their Green counterparts demanding assurances. If those assurances are not provided, any existing local arrangements will be brought to an end.
The internal dynamics within the Green Party regarding this motion are complex and fractured. Four of the party’s five Members of Parliament have criticized the resolution, signaling a lack of unified support among its elected representatives in Westminster. Green leader Zack Polanski, who was absent from the conference vote due to an unsuccessful campaign in a Westminster by-election, has expressed a desire to amend the motion in the future, describing it as imperfect. However, he defended the core sentiment regarding the displacement of Palestinians, arguing that such actions are underpinned by racist ideology, though Israel denies committing genocide in Gaza.
Polanski, who is Jewish, responded to Burnham’s comments by highlighting his personal experience with antisemitism and asserting that Jewish people are welcome within his party. He positioned himself as the only Jewish leader of a major political party in the UK, using this identity to counter accusations of inherent bias against Jewish communities. A Green Party spokesperson criticized Labour’s approach, arguing that conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism is both disappointing and incorrect. The spokesperson also labeled Labour’s attempt to dictate local partnership choices as undemocratic interference.
The structural differences between the two parties play a significant role in this confrontation. National political parties in the UK exercise varying degrees of control over their local councillors, who often form deals to govern municipal areas. Labour operates under a centralized model where its ruling National Executive Committee must approve any local power-sharing agreements. Furthermore, the party’s rulebook mandates that local groups must stand down from such arrangements if requested by their regional office.
In contrast, the Green Party of England and Wales grants greater autonomy to its local branches, allowing them to make final decisions on where and whether to share power. This decentralization has led to accusations from Labour that the Greens are being shielded from accountability for national policy decisions. The tension highlights a broader challenge in coalition politics: balancing national ideological consistency with local pragmatic governance.
The affected councils include Sheffield, Lewes, and Warwick, where Labour shares power directly with the Greens. In other areas, the arrangements are more complex, involving broader coalitions alongside other parties. The seven-day deadline creates immediate pressure on local Green councillors to choose between adhering to their national party’s recent mandate or maintaining working relationships with the ruling party. This situation underscores the fragility of local governance when national ideological disputes spill over into municipal administration.
As the deadline approaches, the outcome will likely set a precedent for how national parties enforce ideological discipline on local representatives. If Labour follows through on its threat to end these coalitions, it could lead to significant administrative disruptions in the affected councils. Conversely, if Green groups comply, it may signal a shift in the party’s stance or create further internal division. The resolution of this standoff will have lasting implications for the relationship between national leadership and local governance in the UK.
Observers note that this conflict reflects deeper societal divisions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how political parties navigate these sensitive issues. The Labour Party’s move is seen as an effort to distance itself from policies it views as harmful to Jewish communities, while the Greens argue for their right to define their own platform. The coming days will reveal whether local pragmatism can survive national ideological rigidity in British politics.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Labour could end local coalitions with Greens over Zionism policy
