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Labour figures rule out future cooperation with Greens over Zionism policy

Green party’s binding motion declaring Zionism a form of racism puts coalition arrangements under strain

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Senior Labour figures have said they are unlikely to cooperate with the Green Party in future after Greens adopted a binding policy treating Zionism as a form of racism and calling for a single Palestinian state in place of Israel. The move has also prompted calls within the Liberal Democrats to end their existing coalition with the Greens in Southwark, south London, while all eyes turn to Thursday’s byelection in Holborn and St Pancras, where Green leader Zack Polanski is seeking to win Labour’s former seat.

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson called the Green policy "shameful" and said it underlined the importance of Labour’s efforts to tackle antisemitism under former leader Jeremy Corbyn. One Labour minister told the Guardian they could not foresee how the two parties could work together, while a government official said Labour should formally rule out any future coalition or arrangement.

There is also internal pressure on the Liberal Democrats, with senior party figures calling on them to end their coalition with the Greens in Southwark, formed after May’s local elections. Both parties have issued a joint statement against antisemitism since the Green vote.

The Green motion, passed at the party’s conference on Sunday, has drawn sharp criticism from Labour. The party sees the issue as a way to simplify its political argument against the Greens, who have increasingly tried to attract disillusioned Labour voters from the left.

The immediate test will be Thursday’s byelection in Holborn and St Pancras, where Polanski is standing. Labour is considered the favourite, but the Greens have poured significant resources into the contest. Polanski told the Guardian the race was "really on a knife-edge".

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The policy could reshape local and national coalition dynamics, particularly if Labour or the Lib Dems end existing arrangements with the Greens.
  • Thursday’s byelection will be a key indicator of whether the Greens can convert Labour discontent into electoral gains.
  • The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within the UK’s left and centre-left parties over Israel-Palestine and antisemitism.

Background

The Green Party of England and Wales has traditionally focused on environmental and social justice issues. Its membership has grown significantly in recent years, and it has secured local government coalitions with the Liberal Democrats. The party’s conference vote to adopt a policy equating Zionism with racism marks a significant hardening of its position on Israel. Labour has sought to distance itself from such positions since the controversies over antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Key Perspectives

Labour: Senior figures see the Green policy as beyond the pale and believe it should rule out any future cooperation, whether in a hung parliament or local government. Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said the move was “shameful” and validated the party’s internal reforms. Green Party: The party has argued that its policy is a matter of principle and that it can still work with other parties on shared issues. Polanski has previously suggested the Greens could consider an electoral pact with Labour under certain leaders, but not under Keir Starmer. Liberal Democrats: Lib Dems are divided, with some senior figures pushing to end the Southwark coalition, while the joint administration has issued a statement against antisemitism in an attempt to manage the fallout. Critics and Jewish groups: A source linked to the Jewish labour movement said Labour should “absolutely” rule out governing with the Greens, questioning whether the party’s treatment of Jewish members could breach equality law.

What to Watch

  • The result of Thursday’s Holborn and St Pancras byelection, which will test the Greens’ electoral strength and Labour’s hold on its former constituency.
  • Whether the Lib Dems choose to break their coalition with the Greens in Southwark, and if so, how that affects local government.
  • Any formal statement from Labour leadership ruling out future cooperation with the Greens, as some government officials have urged.

Sources

Zotpaper

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