Labour's decision halts collaborative governance arrangements in areas including Arun, Lewes, Sheffield, and Stafford after the Greens endorsed a single democratic Palestinian state instead of a two-state solution. While six Green council groups swiftly distanced themselves by condemning their national conference's motion, Labour insists the entire party must formally rescind the stance. In response, Green leader Zack Polanski defended his party's record and criticized Labour for arming Israel while undermining local voters.
Key points
National foreign policy disputes over the Middle East are directly fracturing local gover…: National foreign policy disputes over the Middle East are directly fracturing local government coalitions across England.
Internal dissent has emerged among Greens, with six local council groups openly condemnin…: Internal dissent has emerged among Greens, with six local council groups openly condemning their party's national policy motion.
Green leadership warned that Labour's withdrawal from cross-party pacts will harm communi…: Green leadership warned that Labour's withdrawal from cross-party pacts will harm community services and disregard voter intentions.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Britain's governing Labour Party has decided to stop cooperating with the Green Party in 11 councils across England over the Greens adopting a policy that "Zionism is racism" last month.
Bridget Phillipson, the Labour chair, said the Green motion on Zionism "crosses a line and we cannot work with any party that supports it - at any level of government".
Prime Minister Andy Burnham denounced the motion as "antisemitic" last month. The Green Party said it would "not take lectures" from a government that supplies weapons to Israel.
According to Labour, cooperation with the Greens will stop on Arun, Derbyshire Dales, Havant, Lewes, Sheffield, Stafford, Warwick, Wealden, West Devon and West Suffolk councils.
Six Green council groups, in Broadland, Monmouthshire, North Somerset, Rother, West Oxfordshire and West Sussex, have condemned the motion.
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Phillipson said: "Any local power-sharing arrangement cannot come at the expense of upholding the moral obligation we have to stand up for everyone in our…
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