Burnham Rules Out Partnership With Greens Over Zionism Motion
The prime minister told the Commons the Green Party’s conference motion defining Zionism as racism “is wrong, it is antisemitic, and this side of the House will have nothing to do with it”, adding that Labour “cannot support a partnership” with a party holding that position. Zack Polanski accused him of arming “a genocide”.
The practical question is local. Labour governs in coalition with the Greens in Sheffield, Lewes and Warwick and alongside them in more than ten other councils, and Downing Street would not say whether the ban reaches that far. The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813 — about 0.4% of a 230,000 membership — and was criticised by four Green MPs and two former leaders. Mr Polanski, who calls himself the only Jewish leader of a party, has said the wording was “imperfect” while defending its substance. The Green MP Ellie Chowns says policy made by so few members shows “something isn’t working” in the party’s structures. It is policy, but need not reach the manifesto.