Stafford Labour 'to stop working with Greens' because of party's 'Zionism is racism' policy

Labour has announced it will end its coalition with the Greens on Stafford Borough Council over the party’s ‘Zionism is racism’ policy.

The Green Party formally voted to declare Zionism to be a form of racism at its annual conference last month, sparking allegations of antisemitism from political opponents.

Labour called on Green members on local councils to reject their national party’s policy, saying that if they did not do so Labour would end any co-operation arrangements between the two parties.

Labour’s National Executive Committee has now announced the party will cease working with the Greens at 11 councils, including Stafford, after these conditions were not met.

The borough council has been run by a coalition between Labour, the Stafford Borough Independents and the Greens since 2023, with Green councillor Tony Pearce serving on the cabinet.

Without the five Green councillors, the coalition would have just 19 of the 40 seats on the council, just short of a majority.

Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson 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.

“The Labour Party fought hard to root out antisemitism within our own party and ensure it had no place in our politics.”

The ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion, which was passed by a vote of 1,022 to 813 at the Green Party of England and Wales conference, declared Zionism to be ‘fundamentally incompatible with anti-racist principles’. Party members voted to formally establish the Greens as an anti-Zionist party.

Borough council leader Aidan Godfrey and Cllr Pearce have been approached for comment. Under Labour Party rules, any decision by the NEC on local power sharing arrangements must be enacted within 14 days.