Labour 'to ditch half of local coalitions with Greens' amid fury at 'Zionism is Racism' policy

Published: 05:26 EDT, 2 November 2026 | Updated: 05:26 EDT, 2 November 2026 Labour is today expected to reveal which of its local power-sharing deals with the Greens it will ditch amid a furious anti-Semitism row.Following the passing of a 'Zionism is racism' motion at the Greens' conference last month, Labour reviewed its ongoing cooperation with the party across local councils.All Labour council groups in coalition or other power-sharing arrangements with the Greens were told to seek 'reassurances' their local partners condemned the motion.They were also urged to get confirmation that local Green groups will call on their party's national leadership to rethink the motion.Labour said the ultimatum would impact 17 councils across England and one in Wales.The party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) is now said to have assessed each response, with Labour set to reveal the status of all local arrangements on Monday.It has been reported that up to eight Labour-Green deals could collapse.Green councillors on Lewes District Council revealed on Friday that their power-sharing agreement with Labour has now been dissolved. Zack Polanski's poll rating has slumped to his worst as Green leader amid the anti-Semitism row Andy Burnham has ruled out any coalition with the Greens on a national level in future while the policy declaring Zionism a form of racism is in placeLabour leader Andy Burnham has ruled out any coalition with the Greens on a national level in future while the policy declaring Zionism a form of racism is in place.The Prime Minister last month said he condemned it 'unequivocally' and would not support a 'partnership' with the Greens while they keep the motion.Green leader Zack Polanski has said he would not try to overturn the policy, passed by party members, but did want to amend it 'at the first available opportunity'.Mr Polanski's poll rating has slumped to his worst as Green leader amid the row.A storm of criticism has seen the motion described as an 'attack' on the Jewish community and the Greens branded 'an extremist party'.Opponents also claim the motion effectively calls for the eradication of Israel as it refers only to a single Palestinian state.Mr Polanski controversially skipped the conference vote on the motion on 4 October in order to campaign ahead of last week's Holborn and St Pancras by-election.His decision to focus on his bid to become an MP rather than remain in Brighton for the conference saw him accused of a 'lack of leadership' by critics from within his own party. Mr Polanski then went on to lose the contest in the north London constituency to Labour, which added to questions over his leadership of the Greens.Former Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay on Sunday said he was 'deeply uncomfortable' with the motion and said the question now was how Mr Polanski and the party responded.He told the BBC: 'I think there's a real crossroads point for the party at the moment.'One option is to sort of dig in more down this approach, not only in relation to this motion, but I think that there's a risk it brings with it – a quite divisive, a quite internally focused approach to politics.'Mr Ramsay also called for the party to focus on its 'core values.'