Derbyshire Dales Labour councillors no longer be in coalition with the Greens - over Zionism row
The Labour Party has pulled out of power-sharing agreements with the Green Party in 11 local councils.
Derbyshire Dales Labour councillors will no longer be in coalition with the Greens, after the national party adopted a policy defining Zionism as a form of racism.
Labour has pulled out of powersharing deals with the Greens in 11 local authorities including Derbyshire Dales District Council.
Local Green Party of England and Wales representatives had been given an ultimatum by Labour to disown the policy or face the collapse of coalition agreements.
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said local deals “cannot come at the expense of upholding the moral obligation we have” to stand up for all parts of the community.
Ms Phillipson said: “The Labour Party exists to deliver for communities across the country at all levels of government.
“Any local powersharing 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 Green Party said it was "hugely disappointed" that Labour had forced local leaders into "jeopardising successful progressive partnerships that are delivering benefits for residents".
In a statement, they said: “Across the country, Green, Labour, Independent and Liberal Democrat councillors have worked together to provide stable local government, protect services and deliver positive change. Leaders across these parties are rightly proud of what those partnerships have achieved.
“Those who issued ultimatums that destabilised powersharing agreements have often ignored the judgments of their own local leaders, failed to respect the choices made by local voters, and are disrupting successful partnerships.”
In October, Green Party members backed a motion, entitled "Zionism is racism", which said Zionism was an ideology that supported an "ethnonationalist Jewish State in historic Palestine". It also backed a "single democratic Palestinian State", including in modern-day Israel.