Labour councillors in Sheffield finally end alliance with Greens over 'blatant anti-Semitism' after bid to defy Andy Burnham's orders

Labour councillors in Sheffield have finally ended their alliance with the Greens amid a furious anti-Semitism row.The two parties had been engaged in talks to try and salvage their coalition deal in the wake of Green members passing a 'Zionism is racism' motion last month.But those discussions have now broken down to plunge the council into a fresh political crisis.Sheffield City Council had been among 11 local authorities where Labour announced the scrapping of power-sharing arrangements with the Greens.It followed orders by Prime Minister Andy Burnham for local Labour groups to end agreements with local Greens if they did not condemn the 'Zionism is racism' motion.The controversial motion - branded an 'attack' on British Jews - was passed by Green members at their national conference in Brighton at the beginning of October.Despite the PM's edict, the Labour group in Sheffield had tried to preserve their deal with local Greens by holding talks over the past week on trying to find a 'consensus'.Council leader Fran Belbin has now ended those efforts and said her Labour group cannot continue a partnership while 'blatant anti-Semitism is not adequately challenged'. Sheffield City Council had been among 11 local authorities where Labour announced the scrapping of power-sharing arrangements with the Greens Prime Minister Andy Burnham ordered local Labour groups to end agreements with local Greens if they did not condemn the 'Zionism is racism' motionIn a statement posted on Facebook, Cllr Belbin wrote: 'Following the divisive Green Party motion, I have tried to find a way through which would enable the Labour Party and Green Party in Sheffield to continue our administration, and to ensure we put the best interests of local residents first.'I have striven to find a consensus despite knowing how challenging this may be and I entered these discussions in good faith.'Last week, hours before full council, Sheffield Greens finally confirmed that they recognise that not all Zionists are racists; that all peoples have the right to self-determination; and they committed to undertake anti-Semitism training organised by the Council for all councillors.'On that basis, I felt there could be enough common ground for us to continue our joint administration in the best interests of Sheffield.'Since then we have worked with them to put out a joint statement to reassure our communities.'It has been slow work but unfortunately the Green Party has been unable to take the steps needed to give our city the certainty we need.' Where is Labour scrapping or keeping local deals with the Greens?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. Cllr Belbin said trust between her Labour group and local Greens had been 'further eroded' by the emergence of 'damaging posts' on social media by Green councillor Mustafa Ahmed.He is reported to have shared a post in Arabic, in the days following the 7 October 2023 terror attacks on Israel, stating that Muslims who condemned the Hamas atrocity 'will bear the shame of supporting the Jews'.Cllr Ahmed is also said to have made further controversial posts last year, with Cllr Belbin claiming his 'behaviour appears to have gone unchecked'.She added: 'Despite the very best efforts and intentions of the Sheffield Labour Party, it is clear that the joint administration with the Green Party in Sheffield must now come to an end.'We cannot, in good faith, continue our partnership with a group where such blatant anti-Semitism is not adequately challenged.'Sheffield Greens said in a statement: 'Fran Belbin is now U-turning on her previous commitment to ensure a stable council for Sheffield.'This reversal follows agreement of a statement between Sheffield Green and Labour groups on Wednesday 4 November.'Last week, Sheffield Labour Group and Green Group began constructive negotiations to continue the joint working arrangement in Sheffield.'Talks conducted in good faith led to a joint statement agreed by both local parties, which was then pulled at the last minute by Labour bosses in London.'The Sheffield Labour Group then withdrew its motion to set up a minority administration and voted down a last-minute wrecking amendment by the Liberal Democrat Group.'Constructive talks then continued over the week and into the weekend.'On Sunday, it became clear that the goalposts were being moved again, and on Monday, Cllr Belbin produced a new version of the joint statement, written by the Labour Party’s NEC (National Executive Committee).'This was very disappointing as the new statement did not reflect the constructive and thoughtful discussions between local groups.'The Green group added that it was 'now clear that the national Labour Party vetoed the joint working arrangement', saying: 'Sheffield deserves leadership with a backbone, not a permission slip from London.'A Green Party spokesperson initially said Cllr Ahmed 'deeply regrets' his 2023 post on Facebook and had deleted it.But he has since reshared it on Facebook on Thursday morning, writing: 'I was poorly advised to take down the 2023 repost and issue a response; having since taken advice, I am clarifying my position without equivocation.'The accusation of anti-Semitism regarding my repost of Palestinian writer Adham Sharkawi relies on a deliberate distortion of language.'Cllr Ahmed added: 'Stripping an Arabic text of its cultural and political context to manufacture a controversy is a bad-faith tactic aimed at policing language and suppressing anti-colonial speech. 'I therefore reshare my initial post which has deliberately been used to target me in a vicious witch hunt against those on the right side of history.'