Senior Labour party figures are unlikely to cooperate with the Greens following the latter’s adoption of a policy equating Zionism with racism at their conference on Sunday. Bridget Phillipson, Labour chair, called this move "shameful," while some within the Jewish labour movement argue that it could breach equality law and call for Labour to formally rule out any future coalition or arrangement with the Greens. This stance is seen as a strategic political move by Labour to counter the growing influence of the Green Party among left-leaning voters ahead of upcoming elections, including the Holborn and St Pancras byelection where both parties are competing.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
At the Green Party's annual conference in Brighton, members voted to adopt a motion declaring Zionism as a form of racism. The controversial move passed with 1,022 votes to 813 and was supported by the group Greens for Palestine. The policy asserts that Zionism should be "treated as any other form of racism" and calls for a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine. Former party leaders like Caroline Lucas and others warned against the divisive nature of the motion, while current leader Zack Polanski missed the vote to campaign elsewhere. Critics argue the policy could alienate Jewish members who identify with Zionism, leading to safety concerns and accusations of antisemitic policies. The Board of Deputies, Community Security Trust, and Jewish Leadership Council expressed their deep concern over this decision before it was implemented. Despite these criticisms, the Green Party maintains its stance as an anti-racist party committed to equality and justice for all. However, the adoption of this policy has caused significant internal division within the party.
Written for “Green Party Zionism Policy” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 36 other(s) covering the same event.
Senior Labour party figures said it is very unlikely their party would cooperate with the Greens in the future after they adopted a policy treating Zionism as a form of racism.
asserted
they → say → racism
One Labour minister said they could not foresee how the two parties could work together, while a government official said Labour should formally rule out a future coalition or other arrangement.
uncertain
Labour → say → coalition
There is also pressure within the Liberal Democrats for them to end existing arrangements with Zack Polanski’s party, with some senior Lib Dems calling on the party to end its coalition with the Greens in Southwark, south London.
asserted
Dems → be → Southwark
Green members voted at the party’s conference on Sunday to adopt a binding policy that says Zionism should be treated by the party as racism, and which calls for a single Palestinian state in place of Israel.
asserted
which → vote → Israel
After the vote, Bridget Phillipson, the Labour chair, called the move “shameful”, saying it highlighted how vital it had been for her party to tackle antisemitism under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.
asserted
party → call → Corbyn
While Phillipson’s statement was backed by her fellow ministers, there was debate as to whether Labour should go further and formally rule out any ties with the Greens, for example if a future general election delivered a hung parliament.
asserted
election → back → parliament
A source linked to the Jewish labour movement said Labour should “absolutely” rule out governing with the Greens, arguing the policy raised serious questions about whether its treatment of Jewish members could breach equality law.
uncertain
treatment → link → law
It follows months of speculation of possible cooperation between the parties.
asserted
It → follow → parties
Polanski said earlier this year that the Greens could consider an electoral pact with Labour under Andy Burnham or Angela Rayner, while ruling out one under the former prime minister Keir Starmer.
uncertain
Greens → say → minister
Labour views the Zionism motion, and the criticism that has followed, as a means to simplify its political argument against the Greens at a time when Polanski’s party has increasingly sought to attract disillusioned Labour voters on the party’s left.
asserted
party → view → left
A major test of this will come on Thursday, with voting in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, where Polanski is seeking to win Starmer’s former seat from Labour.
asserted
Polanski → come → Labour
The Greens have poured huge resources into the contest, with Polanski telling the Guardian that it is “really on a knife-edge”.
asserted
it → pour → edge
Despite the Greens’ campaigning efforts, helped by their massively increased membership, Labour are considered the favourites to win.
asserted
Labour → help → membership
The Lib Dems and Greens already govern together in Southwark after May’s local elections, with the Greens as the senior partner.
uncertain
Dems → govern → partner
Following the Zionism motion, both Southwark parties released a “joint administration statement against antisemitism”.
asserted
parties → follow → antisemitism
Without mentioning the new Green policy, it said they would “continue to work with Jewish community organisations to make sure they know they have a place in Southwark”.
asserted
they → mention → Southwark
It brought a scathing response from some senior Lib Dems.
asserted
It → bring → Dems
Tagging Victor Chamberlain, the Lib Dem deputy leader of Southwark, Sarah Ludford, a peer and former MEP for the party, wrote on X that she did not understand “how you think this greenwash is an adequate response to the Greens’ antisemitic ‘Zionism is racism’ motion, from which I believe you should entirely distance yourselves”.
asserted
you → tag → yourselves
Another Lib Dem peer, Lynne Featherstone, who was formerly an MP, replied to a post by Chamberlain to say: “I would ditch them.
asserted
I → reply → them
The policy was adopted at the Green party conference in Brighton on Sunday by 1,022 votes to 813, despite being opposed by four of the party’s five MPs.
asserted
policy → adopt → MPs
Polanski, who left the Green conference early on Friday to campaign, stopped short of endorsing or criticising the motion.
asserted
who → leave → motion
In a statement on Monday night after the European Greens and German Greens distanced themselves from the policy, Polanski said antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state “are and must always be completely distinct”.
asserted
antisemitism → distance → state
Polanski said he remained proud of the party’s stance on Palestinian rights.
asserted
he → say → rights
The Aporia
