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Labour is currently considering whether to terminate power-sharing agreements with Green Party councillors following demands that the Greens renounce a recent party policy labeling Zionism as a form of racism. Reports indicate that Green groups have been given a deadline until Sunday to respond to this demand. After that, Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will determine whether to maintain or end existing local alliances where power is shared between the two parties.
In some regions, Green councillors have openly rejected or distanced themselves from the controversial Zionism policy, which seems to decrease the risk of the coalition agreements being dissolved there. However, in other locations, Green councillors have yet to clarify their positions, making those partnerships appear more fragile. The issue is particularly pressing in nine local authorities where the Greens serve as crucial partners in governing coalitions. These alliances help secure majorities needed to pass budgets and make policy decisions.
Among the councils most affected are Sheffield City Council, Warwick District Council, and Lewes District Council, where Labour and the Greens operate in direct coalition. Additional councils where the Greens hold significant roles include West Oxfordshire, Stafford, Havant, Broadland, Derbyshire Dales, and Wealden districts. In contrast, in places like Runnymede Borough Council, Green councillors have already exited ruling alliances after Labour’s ultimatum. In various districts such as Lewes, Wealden, Broadland, West Sussex, and North Somerset, local Green factions have expressed disagreement with the Zionism policy or distanced themselves from it, though some groups have not yet publicly responded, contributing to ongoing uncertainty about the future of cooperation between the parties.
In Stafford Borough Council, the Greens hold one cabinet seat—councillor Tony Pearce, responsible for the climate change portfolio. Pearce has yet to comment on the situation. The leader of the Stafford Green group, Doug Rouxel, told the BBC they are currently “formulating a response” to Labour’s letter and intend to consult party members before responding. Labour has confirmed that if the Greens do not reject the Zionism policy, a procedure will be initiated to remove Pearce from his cabinet role. Meanwhile, in Lewes District Council, the Labour group leader resigned from the party following the ultimatum and will now serve as an independent cabinet member within the Labour-Green coalition formed in May 2023. The BBC has learned that Chris Collier, the former Labour leader on the council, disagreed with the tone of Labour’s demand toward the Greens.
The contested “Zionism is racism” motion was adopted at the Green Party of England and Wales’ annual conference in Brighton last month. It described Zionism as an ideology that promotes an “ethnonationalist Jewish state” leading to the “disenfranchisement and destruction” of Palestinians. The policy supports the establishment of a “single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine,” encompassing the area of present-day Israel. This stance has sparked backlash from Jewish groups and criticism from prominent Green figures, including four out of five Green MPs. Party leader Zack Polanski, who did not attend the conference, has voiced a desire to see the “imperfect” motion amended in the future.
Under Labour rules, councillors require the NEC’s approval before entering local power-sharing arrangements. Additionally, local Labour groups must “stand down” from such agreements if ordered by their regional office. In contrast, the Green Party leaves the final decision regarding local cooperation to its local groups. In response to Labour’s actions, a Green Party spokesperson stated, “For the Labour government to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism is disappointing and wrong. Trying to tell local parties what to do and who they can work with is undemocratic.
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