Labour Ends Green Party Coalitions in 11 Councils Over Zionism Row

Political disagreements over the Green Party's position on Zionism have prompted Labour to withdraw from joint administrations in 11 local authorities across England, disrupting existing political partnerships and creating uncertainty over local government leadership. The decision, announced on November 2, 2026, follows the Greens' adoption of a controversial policy describing Zionism as a form of racism.

According to Labour, its local representatives had been involved in power-sharing arrangements with the Greens in 18 authorities. However, 11 failed to satisfy conditions imposed by the party's national leadership, which demanded that local Green representatives reject the controversial motion.

The affected authorities are Arun, Derbyshire Dales, Havant, Lewes, Runnymede, Sheffield, Stafford, Warwick, Wealden, West Devon and West Suffolk. Labour confirmed that cooperation would continue in Broadland, Monmouthshire, North Somerset, Rother, West Oxfordshire and West Sussex.

Coventry City Council has no formal coalition agreement, while cooperation will remain in place at the West of England mayoralty, where a Green politician serves as deputy mayor.

Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson defended the decision, saying the national party could not maintain political partnerships with organizations supporting the motion.

"Labour has been clear from the start that the "Zionism is Racism" policy crosses a line and we cannot work with any party that supports it – at any level of government." Bridget Phillipson said.

The dispute began after Green Party members approved a motion at their October conference defining Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state in historic Palestine. The resolution also endorsed establishing a single democratic Palestinian state across the territory, including present-day Israel.

The policy became official party policy following the membership vote, despite opposition from several senior Green politicians and criticism from Jewish organizations and other political parties. Israel has repeatedly denied allegations that its military campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticized Labour's intervention and warned that ending local partnerships could have serious consequences for communities.

Polanski said the decision would "backfire" and accused Labour of seeking to "interrupt your local services and impose genocide support from it's local councils".

He has described the adopted motion as "imperfect" while defending its central argument concerning Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Polanski did not participate in the conference debate or vote because he was campaigning in a Westminster by-election.

The breakdown of cooperation could affect hundreds of thousands of residents. Councils may face delays in approving budgets and policy decisions as Labour and Green representatives search for alternative coalition partners or attempt to govern without a majority.

Sheffield is among the most significant authorities affected. Following the May 2026 elections, 25 Labour councillors and 20 Green councillors established a joint administration to govern the city, which has approximately 550,000 residents.

Sheffield Labour leader Fran Belbin said her party would propose moving to a Labour minority administration on Wednesday, describing the breakdown in relations as irreversible.

"We now feel we are at the end of the road with the joint administration," Belbin said.

She also said the relationship between the two groups had deteriorated beyond repair, accusing the local Greens of failing to defend Jewish residents.

Green Party co-deputy leader Rachel Millward, who also leads Wealden Council, condemned Labour's decision to withdraw from the partnerships. She argued that local government services should not become casualties of national political disagreements.

"It is ironic that a Labour prime minister who made a promise to solve problems, not score points, has now shown he is willing to disrupt well-run councils for fear of Green success." Millward said.

She also rejected treating criticism of Israeli government policy as equivalent to antisemitism, arguing that Jewish communities hold different positions on the actions of Israel's government.

In Havant, Green group leader Netty Shepherd described the collapse of the partnership as a major setback for local residents. She argued that councillors should prioritize municipal responsibilities rather than international political disputes.

"I am a local government councillor, I worry about people's bins, I worry about generating town centres - foreign policy is nothing to do with my remit," Shepherd said in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Meanwhile, the controversy has exposed deeper disagreements within the Green Party over its leadership, internal democracy and political direction. Former co-leader Adrian Ramsay has warned that a small number of activists could exert disproportionate influence over party policy.

Ramsay, the MP for Waveney Valley who served as co-leader alongside Carla Denyer from 2021 to 2025, described the party as being at a critical turning point.

"I think there's a real crossroads point for the party at the moment," Ramsay told the BBC.

He argued that the party's decision-making arrangements allow relatively small groups attending annual conferences to influence policies affecting its wider membership. Ramsay said only 0.4% of members voted for the controversial motion and questioned whether the outcome reflected the broader membership.

He called for changes to internal procedures, including giving more members opportunities to participate in policy decisions through wider ballots or surveys.

Ramsay also urged the leadership to restore the party's emphasis on environmental protection, climate policy and the cost-of-living crisis. He warned that divisive internal politics could undermine its appeal among British voters.

"What I want to see happen is this issue be clearly addressed," Ramsay said.

He rejected the motion's characterization of Zionism and maintained that Palestinians and Israelis should enjoy equal rights and political self-determination. He also described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as appalling.

Ramsay said the party should reconsider the policy before the normal two-year review period expires. He also criticized Polanski's absence from the conference debate, arguing that the leader should have attended and explained his position.

A spokesperson for Greens Organise, the grassroots group supporting Polanski's leadership, defended the current direction of the party. The group highlighted the growth in membership and electoral progress under his leadership.

According to the spokesperson, more than 150,000 members have joined since Polanski took charge. The group argued that these members deserve representatives focused on addressing major national challenges.

The dispute has also attracted attention from the Liberal Democrats. Party leader Ed Davey has ruled out a national partnership with the Greens while their controversial policy remains in place and asked local Liberal Democrat leaders working with Green councillors to seek its rejection.

Separately, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has requested further information from the Green Party following concerns raised by politicians and Jewish campaigners. The controversy is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the party's spring conference next year.