Labour has today announced that the Party will cease co-operation
in coalition and power-sharing arrangements with the Green Party
in 11 local authorities.
Following the Green Party Conference formally adopting the
Zionism is Racism motion as official party policy, Prime Minister
Andy stated that the Labour Party cannot
work with any party that supports this antisemitic policy. The
Labour Party has made clear that this applies consistently at all
levels of government.
Labour Party councillors across the country work hard week in,
week out to deliver for their local residents and their first
priority is doing what is right for their local communities.
However, any cooperation agreement at a local level cannot come
at the expense of the moral obligation we have to stand up for
all communities and the values we share.
In October, the Labour Party asked all Labour Groups with an
existing co-operation arrangement to write to their local Green
Party leadership, if they had not already done so, seeking a
clear and unambiguous public statement that they reject the
Zionism is Racism policy, and confirm that they would call on
their party's national leadership to reconsider it. Responses
were required within seven days. If these conditions were not
met, any local power sharing arrangement would need to end. If
these conditions were met, local groups could continue working
together on behalf of local residents.
All responses have now been reviewed locally and by Labour's
ruling body, the National Executive Committee. Following this
process, Labour will cease cooperation with the Green Party in 11
local authorities.
MP, Chair of the Labour
Party, said:
The Labour Party exists to deliver for communities across the
country at all levels of government. Any local power sharing
arrangement cannot come at the expense of upholding the moral
obligation we have to stand up for everyone in our communities
and the values we share.
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.
Labour councillors will keep working hard every day for their
local residents and will always act in the best interests of
their area. We are pleased that some local Green Parties have
rightly opted to disavow this policy and have called on their
party's leadership to do the same. It is disappointing that some
local Green Parties have not met the conditions Labour has set
out. Labour continues to oppose this divisive policy and calls on
the Green Party to do the right thing and rescind it.
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 root out antisemitism within our
own party and ensure it had no place in our politics. Our action
is a demonstration of how today's Labour Party will not shirk
from the responsibility we have to uphold those same standards in
our relationships with other parties.
The full list of local authorities where any formal or informal
power sharing arrangement exists between a local Labour Group and
a local Green Party is below, alongside the Labour Party's
position with regards to the local arrangement moving forwards.
***
Arun District Council
Conditions not met local cooperation to be withdrawn.
Broadland District Council
Conditions met local cooperation to continue.
Coventry City Council
No formal arrangement
in place. Conditions not met no formal arrangement will be made
in future.
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Conditions not met local cooperation to be withdrawn.
Havant Borough Council
Conditions not met local cooperation to be withdrawn.
Lewes District Council
Conditions not met local cooperation has been
withdrawn.
Monmouthshire County Council
Conditions met local cooperation to continue.
North Somerset Council
Conditions met local cooperation to continue.
Rother District Council
Conditions met local cooperation to continue.
Runnymede Borough Council
Local cooperation has already ceased.
Sheffield City Council
Conditions not met local cooperation has been withdrawn.
Stafford Borough Council
Conditions not met local cooperation to be withdrawn.
Warwick District Council
Conditions not met local cooperation to be withdrawn.
Wealden District Council
Conditions not met local cooperation to be withdrawn.
West Devon Borough Council
Conditions not met local cooperation to be withdrawn.
West Oxfordshire District Council
Conditions met local cooperation to continue.
West Suffolk Council
Conditions not met local cooperation to be withdrawn.
West Sussex County Council
Conditions met local cooperation to continue.
***
Mayor of the West of England
Deputy Mayor represents the Green Party. Conditions met local
cooperation to continue.
Ends
Notes:
- Under the Labour Party's rules, any decision made by the NEC
with regards to local power sharing arrangement must be enacted
within 14 days.
- The decision over Monmouthshire Council was made by the Welsh
Executive Committee (the WEC), in line with Labour Party rules.
