Labour has ordered councils that share power with the Green party to review and terminate their agreements unless local Green councillors condemn the party's newly adopted policy equating Zionism with racism. The demand, announced by Labour chair Bridget Phillipson, follows the Green party's 4 October vote in Brighton to adopt the motion, which rejects a two-state solution and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state.
Bridget Phillipson, the Labour chair, said groups working with Green party politicians must review their agreements and end them unless they reject the motion, which was adopted at the Green party's conference in Brighton at the start of October. The policy equates Zionism, the movement for a Jewish state, with racism, rejects a two-state solution and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state "with equal rights for all".
The announcement came after prime minister's questions on Wednesday, in which Andy Burnham ruled out Labour partnership with the Greens. Asked about the motion, he said: "It is wrong. It is antisemitic, and this side of the house will have nothing to do with it."
Phillipson said local Green groups had been asked to respond "as a matter of urgency" and to make clear that they reject the position and call on their national leadership to reconsider. Where they cannot provide that assurance, Labour will bring any such local arrangement to an end. "This isn't an issue of party politics; it's about doing what is right, and upholding the values anyone holding public office should share," she said, citing Labour's own fight to address antisemitism.
A Green party of England and Wales spokesperson responded: "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. Whilst Labour continue to try to meddle in our internal democracy, arm a genocide and lock up protesting pensioners, we will not take lectures from them."
The motion passed on 4 October by 1,022 votes to 813, a figure the Guardian noted represents 0.4 per cent of Green party membership. Four of the party's five MPs opposed it, as did former leader Caroline Lucas. The Guardian understands local Green councillors are unlikely to face disciplinary measures if they condemn the motion, given the party's highly decentralised structure and absence of a whipping system. Southwark Greens have already disowned the policy to maintain a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Labour's directive could unravel local government coalitions across England if Green councillors refuse to disown a policy adopted by their national party.
- It puts council-level politics at the centre of a national dispute over antisemitism and where criticism of Israel becomes illegitimate.
- The standoff tests how the two largest left-of-centre parties, who often share power locally, can work together in future.
Background
The Green party of England and Wales adopted the binding motion at its annual conference in Brighton on 4 October. It equates Zionism, the movement for a Jewish state, with racism, rejects a two-state solution and calls for a single Palestinian state. The vote passed by 1,022 to 813, representing 0.4 per cent of party membership, and was opposed by four of the party's five MPs and by former leader Caroline Lucas.
Labour's position reflects its stated determination to keep antisemitism out of its own politics, which Phillipson referenced directly. The party also has a practical interest: Labour and Green politicians currently share power in several councils, and those arrangements are now in question.
Key Perspectives
Labour: Phillipson frames the demand as upholding the values anyone holding public office should share, not as party politics. Burnham has ruled out partnership with a party holding the position, describing it as wrong and antisemitic.
The Green party of England and Wales: Accuses Labour of conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism and of meddling in the party's internal democracy. Its spokesperson rejected the demand as undemocratic and said the party would not take lectures from Labour.
Local Greens and dissenters: The party's decentralised structure and lack of whipping mean local councillors are unlikely to face discipline for condemning the motion. Southwark Greens have already disowned the policy to keep their coalition with the Liberal Democrats, and several MPs publicly oppose it.
What to Watch
- Whether local Green groups provide the assurance Labour has sought "as a matter of urgency".
- Which Labour-Green council agreements, if any, are actually brought to an end in the coming weeks.
- How the Green party's membership responds, given the motion passed narrowly but most of its parliamentary representatives oppose it.