Labour leader urges Greens to denounce Zionism motion

The Labour leader of Worcester City Council has called on Green councillors to publicly denounce a motion that declared Zionism a form of racism, saying it has "no place in society".

Lynn Denham wants the Worcester Green Party to reject the policy, which was adopted at the Greens' conference earlier this month.

"They need to make clear their position in rejecting the statement. This isn't an issue about party politics; it's about what is right," she said.

Worcester Green Party said it condemned "antisemitism and all other forms of racism" and "would not take moral lectures from Labour".

The motion, approved on 4 October, has divided senior Green figures, and it has been criticised by some Jewish groups.

Since then Labour has said it will end power-sharing agreements with the Green Party on local councils, unless Green councillors disown the policy.

In Worcester, Labour and the Greens are not in coalition, but they ran the city council under a joint-leadership agreement between 2023 and 2024.

Denham said: "Worcester Green Party councillors need to make clear that they reject this position [the motion], and call on their national leadership to reconsider the policy."

Denham added: "The Prime Minister's made it completely clear that the Greens' 'Zionism is racism' policy is wrong and antisemitic.

"There should be no place for it in British politics and certainly not in Worcester.

"Elected councillors have a responsibility to stand up for every resident and to make sure that everyone feels safe in their area, [have] pride in their area, and belongs in the places that they live."

Green Party leader Zack Polanski did not take part in the vote on the motion and has since said he's "not going to try to overturn it".

He also said he wants to amend it "at the first available opportunity", so that it states "Israelis and Palestinians should decide that future for themselves."

In a statement, Worcester Green Party said it would "continue to work for peace and equal human rights for all", and had already "called for the pursuit of a two-state solution" in a council meeting.

It added: "As we affirmed in our 'Ceasefire in Gaza' motion in November 2023, Worcester Green Party condemns Islamophobia, antisemitism and all other forms of racism.

"Labour acknowledges that the Israeli government is ethnically cleansing Palestinians, but it is still selling arms to Israel - an immoral disgrace.

"Their apology for their previous stance on Gaza is worthless."

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