# Labour Issues Ultimatum to Green Party Over Controversial Anti-Zionism Motion Local council coalitions face termination unless Greens formally reject their recent anti-Zionism policy. - **Source:** [HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk) - **Published:** 2026-10-15 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/bbd578ec-15d1-4e9f-b837-c2aa2a494795 ## Labour Demands Policy Reversal Prime Minister Andy Burnham has issued a strict ultimatum to the Green Party, threatening to dissolve seventeen local council coalitions. This move follows the Greens' recent adoption of a motion declaring Zionism as racism. Labour leadership insists that local Green groups must publicly reject this stance to maintain their current governing partnerships. ## Internal Green Party Divisions The motion passed during the Green Party's annual conference in Brighton, despite opposition from four out of five Green MPs. Leader Zack Polanski notably abstained from the vote, later stating he would not have supported the unamended text. Meanwhile, co-deputy leader Mothin Ali, who voted for the motion, claims the policy is being misrepresented. ## Labour Chair Sets Deadline Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson has demanded urgent assurances from local Green counterparts regarding their position on the motion. She emphasized that Labour expects these groups to pressure their national leadership to reconsider the policy. Failure to provide such clarity will result in the immediate termination of existing local government administrative arrangements. ## Government Stance on Antisemitism Prime Minister Andy Burnham explicitly branded the Green motion as antisemitic on Wednesday. He has already ruled out any future post-election deals with the party while this policy remains in effect. Labour officials argue that upholding these standards is a fundamental responsibility for any political party holding public office in the country. ## Green Party Defends Autonomy A Green Party spokesperson responded by criticizing Labour for conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. The party labeled Labour's intervention as undemocratic and an attempt to meddle in their internal affairs. They rejected the pressure, citing Labour's own controversial actions regarding arms policies and the treatment of protesters as reasons to ignore them. ## Impact on Local Governance Currently, seventeen local councils operate under coalition agreements between Labour and the Greens. These partnerships are now at risk of collapse due to the national-level ideological dispute. The potential dissolution of these arrangements could significantly disrupt local policy implementation and shift the balance of power in various regional administrative bodies across Britain. ## Historical Context of Tensions Labour has previously undergone significant internal efforts to address antisemitism within its own ranks. By applying these same standards to their coalition partners, the party is attempting to maintain a consistent ethical framework. This strategy reflects a broader effort to ensure that all governing partners align with Labour's current institutional values and public standards. ## Future Political Implications The standoff highlights the fragility of cross-party cooperation when national ideological policies clash with local administrative needs. As Labour maintains its hardline stance, the future of these seventeen coalitions remains uncertain. Observers are now watching to see if local Green groups will prioritize their governing power or their national party's official policy. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-local-coalitions-green-zionism_uk_6ad0b3bce4b0f62da4460315 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._