Labour councils who share power with the Greens have been told to terminate agreements if their Green partners do not condemn the party’s new “Zionism is racism” policy.
asserted
Zionism → share → policy
Bridget Phillipson, the Labour chair, said groups working with Green party politicians must “review” their agreements and end them unless they reject the controversial motion, which Andy Burnham called “antisemitic”.
asserted
Burnham → say → which
The policy, which was adopted at the Green party conference in Brighton at the start of the month, equates Zionism, the movement for a Jewish state, with racism.
asserted
which → adopt → racism
It also rejects a two-state solution, and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state “with equal rights for all”.
asserted
Israel → reject → all
On Wednesday, Burnham ruled out Labour having a partnership with the Greens.
asserted
Labour → rule → Greens
Asked about the motion during prime minister’s questions, Burnham said: “It is wrong.
asserted
It → ask → questions
It is antisemitic, and this side of the house will have nothing to do with it.
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side → have → it
Burnham went on to state that Labour would not “support a partnership with a party that holds [the] position that has recently been adopted”.
asserted
that → go → position
Giving further details of Labour’s response to the motion, Phillipson said Greens that were working with Labour in local government would be asked “to make clear that they reject this position and to call on their national leadership to reconsider” the policy.
asserted
they → give → policy
She added: “We have asked local Green groups to respond as a matter of urgency.
asserted
We → add → urgency
Where they are unable to provide that assurance, Labour will bring any such local arrangement to an end.
asserted
Labour → provide → 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.
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anyone → ’ → office
“The Labour party fought hard to address antisemitism within our own party, and ensure it had no place in our politics.
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it → fight → politics
We have a responsibility to uphold those same standards in our relationships with other parties.”
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We → have → parties
Responding to the announcement, a spokesperson for the Green party of England and Wales said: “For the Labour government to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism is disappointing and wrong.
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conflate → respond → antisemitism
Trying to tell local parties what to do and who they can work with is undemocratic.
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they → try → who
“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.”
asserted
we → continue → them
The Guardian understands that local Green party councillors are unlikely to face disciplinary measures if they do condemn the motion, as the party has a highly decentralised structure and no whipping system.
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party → understand → structure
Several MPs and the former leader Caroline Lucas have already stated their opposition, and dissent about policy is tolerated.
asserted
dissent → state → policy
Southwark Greens have already disowned the policy to maintain a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
asserted
Greens → disown → Democrats
The binding anti-Zionism policy motion was passed on 4 October by 1,022 votes to 813.
asserted
motion → bind → 813
The 1,022 votes represented 0.4% of the Green party membership.
asserted
votes → represent → membership
Four of the Greens’ five MPs opposed the new policy, while the group representing European Green parties expressed dismay at the move, which runs counter to their support for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
asserted
which → oppose → Israel
Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, abstained from the vote to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, which he lost.
asserted
he → abstain → which
He later said he would not have voted for the motion without amendments, which were voted down.
asserted
which → say → amendments
Writing in the Guardian as fallout from the motion continued, Polanski signalled a potential overhaul of the Green party’s grassroots democracy, calling for leaders to have greater control over strategic direction after the divisive vote.
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leaders → write → vote
In the wake of the vote, the chair of Jewish Greens called for Polanski to resign.
asserted
Polanski → call → Greens
Other Jewish members expressed concern that they could face disciplinary action for belonging to Jewish organisations that officially support Zionism, including their synagogues.
uncertain
that → express → synagogues
A backer of the motion, Salma Yaqoob, a former member of George Galloway’s Respect party who is now a Green, insisted this would not happen, saying: “Nobody will be removed, challenged, disciplined, suspended because they put forward or articulate their belief in Zionism.”
However, an amendment put forward saying the motion should not be used to “pressure, proscribe or discipline members based on affiliation with Jewish community institutions” was voted down.
asserted
motion → insist → institutions
Affected councils
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Derbyshire Dales Lib Dem-led coalition
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Broadland Lib Dem-led coalition
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West Suffolk Labour-led coalition
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Arun Lib Dem-led coalition
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Havant Labour-led coalition
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Lewes Green-led coalition
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Rother Coalition led by local independent group
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Runnymede Coalition with Lib Dems, Greens and local independent group
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Wealden Green-led coalition
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West Oxfordshire Lib Dem-led coalition
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West Sussex Lib Dem-led coalition
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North Somerset Lib Dem-led coalition
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West Devon Independent-led coalition
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Monmouthshire Labour minority-led coalition
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Coventry Labour-led confidence and supply agreement with the Greens
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Stafford Labour-led coalition
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Warwick Green-led coalition
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Sheffield Labour-led coalition
asserted
Havant → affect → coalition
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