Labour has withdrawn from powersharing deals with the Green Party in several southern local authorities, following a row over a motion passed at the Greens' conference declaring Zionism would be ‘treated as any other form of racism’.
Local Green representatives were given an ultimatum to disown the policy or face the collapse of coalition agreements. Co-operation has ended, or will end, in Arun, Havant, Lewes, Runnymede and Wealden. Arrangements will continue in Rother, West Oxfordshire and West Sussex County Council.
Labour chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said local deals could not come at the expense of the party's ‘moral obligation’ to stand up for everyone in their communities. She said the policy ‘crosses a line’ and Labour could not work with any party that supports it, at any level of government.
Green leader Zack Polanski predicted the move would ‘backfire’ on Labour, accusing it of threatening local services and imposing ‘genocide support from its local councils.’ The Green Party and its Local Government Association group said top-down directives risked disrupting successful partnerships and ignoring local voters and leaders.
