Friday, October 16, 2026
Labour to shun pacts with Greens
The paper says that although Andy Burnham has ruled out a future power-sharing deal with the Green Party, it was unclear whether this would extend to local councils.
However, the party has now asked its councils in joint administrations with Zack Polanski’s party to “review” its arrangements, saying if Green groups did not issue a “clear and unambiguous statement” condemning the motion within seven days, any local power-sharing arrangement will end:
Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said: “The prime minister has been completely clear: this policy is wrong and antisemitic, and has no place in British politics.
“Where local Labour Parties currently have an arrangement with the Greens in local government, we expect their Green counterparts to make clear that they reject this position and to call on their national leadership to reconsider the policy.”
The ultimatum will impact 17 councils across England and one in Wales, according to the Labour Party, also will urge their Green partners to call on the party’s national leaders to condemn the motion.
The Greens hit back at the decision, calling it “undemocratic” and “disappointing.
“For the Labour Government to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism is disappointing and wrong,” a spokesperson for the party said.
“Trying to tell local parties what to do and who they can work with is undemocratic.
“Whilst Labour continue to try to meddle in our internal democracy, arm a genocide and lock up protesting pensioners, we will not take lectures from them.”
But Ms Phillipson added: “We have asked local Green groups to respond as a matter of urgency. Where they are unable to provide that assurance, Labour will bring any such local arrangement to an end. This isn’t an issue of party politics; it’s about doing what is right and upholding the values anyone holding public office should share.
“The Labour Party fought hard to address antisemitism within our own party and ensure it had no place in our politics. We have a responsibility to uphold those same standards in our relationships with other parties.”
The Liberal Democrats are much more decentralised than Labour and this sort of command and control instruction from the centre is not part of our culture, but I think it would be wise for those administrations, where the party is in control with the Greens, to start asking for the same assurances.
Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said: “The prime minister has been completely clear: this policy is wrong and antisemitic, and has no place in British politics.
“Where local Labour Parties currently have an arrangement with the Greens in local government, we expect their Green counterparts to make clear that they reject this position and to call on their national leadership to reconsider the policy.”
The ultimatum will impact 17 councils across England and one in Wales, according to the Labour Party, also will urge their Green partners to call on the party’s national leaders to condemn the motion.
The Greens hit back at the decision, calling it “undemocratic” and “disappointing.
“For the Labour Government to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism is disappointing and wrong,” a spokesperson for the party said.
“Trying to tell local parties what to do and who they can work with is undemocratic.
“Whilst Labour continue to try to meddle in our internal democracy, arm a genocide and lock up protesting pensioners, we will not take lectures from them.”
But Ms Phillipson added: “We have asked local Green groups to respond as a matter of urgency. Where they are unable to provide that assurance, Labour will bring any such local arrangement to an end. This isn’t an issue of party politics; it’s about doing what is right and upholding the values anyone holding public office should share.
“The Labour Party fought hard to address antisemitism within our own party and ensure it had no place in our politics. We have a responsibility to uphold those same standards in our relationships with other parties.”
The Liberal Democrats are much more decentralised than Labour and this sort of command and control instruction from the centre is not part of our culture, but I think it would be wise for those administrations, where the party is in control with the Greens, to start asking for the same assurances.
