Labour breaks coalition with Greens in 11 councils after adopting Zionism‑is‑racism policy

What Happened

Labour's National Executive Committee adopted a policy calling Zionism a form of racism, leading the party to end power‑sharing deals with the Green Party in 11 local councils.

Reaction

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said the policy crossed a line and Labour cannot work with any party that supports it. Green leader Zack Polanski warned the move would backfire and accused Labour of trying to “impose genocide support”. Green co‑deputy leader Rachel Millward criticised Labour for disrupting well‑run councils and for conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

Impact

Councils losing the partnership include Sheffield, Warwick, Lewes and Runnymede. In Sheffield, 25 Labour and 20 Green councillors had formed an administration for the city of 550,000 residents; Labour will now propose a minority administration there. Similar splits will force other councils to find new partners or operate without a coalition, potentially delaying budgets and services for hundreds of thousands of residents.

Context

The split follows a Green Party motion passed in October that labelled Zionism an “ethnonationalist Jewish State” and called for a single democratic Palestinian state. The motion drew condemnation from Jewish groups and opposition parties and prompted Prime Minister Andy Burnham to state Labour would not partner with the Greens over the “antisemitic” stance.