Labour could quit Council power-sharing over Green Party’s Zionism policy
The Labour Party could withdraw from the power sharing agreement on North Somerset Council over the Green Party’s “Zionism is racism” policy, Weston Independent News has learnt.
During the Green Party’s national conference earlier this month, a motion was passed that stated that Zionism should be treated as any other form of racism and commits the party to a single Palestinian state across all of historic Palestine.
As reported by Politico; The Labour Party nationally has condemned the motion and instructed Labour councillors in councils where they are in a power-sharing arrangement, to write to their local counterparts demanding a “clear and unambiguous statement that they reject the ‘Zionism is Racism’ policy, and confirmation that they will call on their party’s national leadership to reconsider it.”
Those Green groups have seven days to respond, and if the conditions aren’t met, power sharing arrangements could end.
Alternatively, Cllr Mike Bell as leader of North Somerset Council could choose to remove the two Green Party councillors, Cllr Annemieke Waite: (Winford) Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment and Cllr Jenna Ho Marris (Pill) - Cabinet Member for Homes & Health from their executive positions in order to maintain the power sharing agreement between the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party.
North Somerset Council is run by a partnership of Liberal Democrats, Labour, Greens and Independents holding 35 of its 50 seats.
Weston Independent News understands that if the Green Party group on North Somerset Council, led by Cllr Bridget Petty (Backwell) rejects the written request, the Labour group on the council, led by Cllr Catherine Gibbons (Milton) may be forced to withdraw from the executive running the council
under the guidance of the national Labour Party.
If this was to happen, a number of Labour councillors would be giving up their portfolio roles, with all 3 councillors who sit on the councils executive, representing wards in Weston-super-Mare: Cllr Catherine Gibbons - Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Families, Skills and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Hugh Malyan - Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport and Cllr James Clayton - Regulatory Services, Sport and Pride in Place programme.
A spokesperson on behalf of North Somerset Council Labour Group said:
“The Prime Minister and Labour Party have been completely clear: the Green Party’s “Zionism is Racism” policy is wrong, antisemitic and has no place in British politics.
Our local partnership on North Somerset Council is based on working together in the interests of local people, but that cannot mean compromising on the fundamental values that should guide anyone holding public office.
We have therefore sought a clear and unambiguous assurance from our Green partners that they reject this policy and will call on their national leadership to reconsider it.
This is not about party politics. It is about doing what is right, standing against antisemitism and upholding the standards we expect of every political organisation.”
Cllr Bridget Petty, leader of the Green Party on North Somerset Council has been contacted for comment.
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