Sheffield Council at risk of collapse as Labour puts 'Zionism is racism' ultimatum to Greens

Sheffield City Council is at risk of falling apart after the Labour Party ordered its local branches to end any power-sharing arrangements with the Greens, unless local councillors disavowed the controversial Zionism is racism motion.

In the Steel City, the council is governed in coalition between the two parties, with Labour with 26 councillors and the Greens with 19.

However, after the motion voted through at the Green Party conference, which Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described as anti-semitic, the Labour Party could pull out.

Earlier today, chair Bridget Phillipson wrote to all Labour council groups who are currently in coalition, or other power-sharing arrangements, with the Greens, asking them to write to the party and seek “reassurances” that they condemn the motion.

If the Greens do not respond in seven days, then Labour has said it will end its power-sharing arrangements. This will impact 18 councils across England and Wales, although Sheffield is the only local authority in Yorkshire affected.

In Sheffield, Labour’s leader Coun Fran Belbin confirmed she had written to her Green counterpart Coun Angela Argenzio, explaining that if she did not reject the motion the coalition would be broken up.

In a statement sent to The Yorkshire Post, Coun Belbin said: “Following the shameful and antisemitic "Zionism is Racism" motion passed at Green Party Conference earlier this month, Sheffield Labour have been privately pressing Councillor Argenzio to offer reassurances to Sheffield's Jewish community.

"Due to the inaction of Sheffield Greens, we have today written to their group leader urging them to publicly reject this motion in order for our joint administration to continue.

"Sheffield Labour is proud to oppose racism in all its forms and will not stand by while the Green Party undermines the right to self-determination for Palestinians and Israelis."

Sheffield’s Green Party has been contacted for comment by The Yorkshire Post.

Writing to the councils, Ms Phillipson said: “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.

“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.”

This comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham ruled out any coalition with the Green Party on a national level in future, while the policy is in place.

Asked about the Zionism is racism motion at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Burnham said he condemned it “unequivocally” and would not support a “partnership” with the Greens while it remained in place.

The Labour Party leader said: “It is wrong, it is antisemitic, and this side of the House will have nothing to do with it.

“We will always take the right response when it comes to any partnerships we have with other parties.

“We cannot support a partnership with a party that holds the position that has recently been adopted.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who did not vote on the motion, has attempted to distance himself from it, saying he would only have supported it if it was amended.

The motion effectively makes the belief in a Jewish homeland - Zionism - regarded as any other form of racism.

He told Sky News: “Ultimately, I agree with the substance of the motion. Where I disagree is the idea the Green Party should be deciding what the future of the region looks like.”

It has been a bruising few weeks for Mr Polanski, who lost the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

The Sheffield Green leader Coun Angela Argenzio previously said: “On behalf of your local Green councillors, I can say unequivocally that we do not, and will not, conflate either Zionism and Judaism, nor anti-Zionism with antisemitism.

“Criticism of a political ideology is not, and cannot be allowed to become, hostility towards Jewish people. The Green Party is committed to being an anti-racist party in every way.”

A Green Party spokesperson said: “For the Labour government to conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism is disappointing and wrong.

“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.”

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson, a party with 22 councillors in Sheffield, added: “The Liberal Democrats stand unequivocally against antisemitism, and there is no place for hate or divisive rhetoric in our politics.

“The Green's policy is divisive, irresponsible and deeply insensitive at this time of rising threats of antisemitism and Islamophobia, and risks significantly increasing community tensions in the UK.

"We continue to call on decent minded members of the Green party to reject and condemn this motion."