Politics · United Kingdom · 1 hr ago
Labour ends cooperation with Greens in 11 English councils over policy
Labour is ending power-sharing deals with the Greens in 11 councils in England after a dispute over the Greens’ new policy on Zionism.
The policy, backed by Green Party members at their October conference, calls Zionism a form of racism and supports a single Palestinian state with equal rights.
Labour says local Green groups must condemn the policy to keep working with Labour councillors.
Six local Green groups condemned it and kept their council arrangements, while Labour says cooperation will stop in 11 councils, including Sheffield, Lewes and Warwick.
The Greens say the move risks disrupting partnerships that provide stable local government and protect services.
The dispute could affect local decisions and services, with budgets and policies taking longer to approve, according to the BBC.
Labour is calling on the Green Party to withdraw the policy, while the Greens have defended its central premise.
Labour has ended power-sharing agreements with the Green Party in 11 local councils in England.
The move follows a Green Party policy motion defining Zionism as racism and calling for a single Palestinian state.
Labour said it would stop cooperating with local Green groups that had not condemned the motion.
The Greens said they were “hugely disappointed” and warned the move could worsen outcomes for residents.
Labour said agreements would remain in place in six authorities where local Green groups had condemned the motion.
- Who
- The Labour Party and Green Party.
- What
- Labour has ended power-sharing agreements with Greens in 11 local councils. It said agreements would remain in six other authorities.
- When
- 2 November 2026.
- Where
- 11 local councils in England, including Sheffield, Lewes and Warwick.
- Why
- Labour said the local Green groups had not condemned a party policy defining Zionism as racism and calling for a single Palestinian state.
Labour Party
Green Party
Policy motion
Labour Party
Labour says the motion crosses a line and it cannot work with parties that support it.
Green Party
Green leader Zack Polanski has defended the motion’s central premise, while describing it as imperfect.
Local cooperation
Labour Party
Labour says agreements must end where local Green groups have not condemned the motion.
Green Party
The Greens say the move risks jeopardising successful local partnerships and worsening outcomes for residents.
Green Party members backed a motion defining Zionism as racism and supporting a single democratic Palestinian state.
Labour issued an ultimatum asking local Green groups to disown the motion and call on the party’s national leadership to reconsider it.
Labour announced it had ended power-sharing agreements with Greens in 11 councils.
- Councils affected
- 11
- Councils retaining agreements
- Broadland, Monmouthshire, North Somerset, Rother, West Oxfordshire and West Sussex
- Council with cooperation already ended
- Runnymede
- Motion title
- Zionism is racism
- Additional authority
- Labour said Coventry City Council had no formal agreement and no future deal would be made.
3 sources
What people are saying
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.
hugely disappointed
Across the country, Green, Labour, independent and Liberal Democrat councillors have worked together to provide stable local government, protect services and deliver positive change.
imperfect