Labour Pressures Green Councillors on Zionism Policy
Labour is exerting pressure on Green Party councillors to distance themselves from a contentious party policy that labels Zionism as a form of racism. This ultimatum comes with the threat of severing local power-sharing arrangements if the Green Party members do not comply by the stipulated deadline.
Green councillors have until Sunday to respond, after which Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will determine whether to terminate collaborations with Green groups in various local authorities. While some Green groups have publicly rejected the policy, others remain silent, putting their alliances, particularly in power-sharing councils, at risk.
Key councils affected include Sheffield City Council, Warwick District Council, and Lewes District Council, where Greens and Labour currently share power. The situation is precarious in other councils like Stafford Borough, where Tony Pearce, a Green councillor, holds a crucial cabinet position. The Labour ultimatum, if not met, could result in Pearce’s removal from his role.
Local Reactions to the Policy
In certain areas, such as Lewes and West Sussex, local Green groups have distanced themselves from the national policy, indicating they do not support it. However, the silence from other groups raises uncertainties about the future of local co-operations.
Chris Collier, a Labour group leader at the Green-led Lewes District Council, resigned from his party in protest over Labour’s stance towards the Greens. His resignation highlights the internal friction and differing opinions on how to address the Zionism policy.
The policy in question was passed during a Green Party conference in Brighton, sparking criticism from Jewish groups and some senior Green figures. The policy calls for the creation of a single democratic state in historic Palestine, criticizing Zionism as an identity linked to an ethnonationalist Jewish state that allegedly undermines Palestinians.
Controversy and Criticism
Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who missed the conference vote, acknowledged the imperfections in the policy and expressed a desire for potential amendments. Meanwhile, a Green spokesperson described Labour’s actions as conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism and deemed their approach undemocratic.
Labour’s NEC mandates that local groups retract from coalitions if required, presenting a sharp contrast to the Green Party’s allowance for local autonomy in such decisions. The ongoing tensions highlight a significant divide between both parties over sensitive international policy stances and internal party governance.
Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash
