Labour ends Green Party powersharing in three Sussex councils
Labour has ended Green Party alliances at councils across Sussex following a national party disagreement over a controversial motion.
The row over a national policy
Labour has ended Green Party powersharing deals in 11 councils across the UK, including three in Sussex. The move follows the national Green Party's October vote on a 'Zionism is racism' policy at their conference held in Brighton. Labour issued an ultimatum requiring Green councillors to disavow the motion in order to continue joint working arrangements.
Lewes District Council
The Green-Labour alliance at Lewes District Council ended on 30 October. The Lewes Green group had formally rejected the motion, but criticised Labour's intervention. Council leader Zoe Nicholson said: "It is with great sadness that I have to share that the co-operative alliance between the Green Group and Labour Group on Lewes District Council has mutually come to an end."
Ezra Cohen, deputy leader of the Green group and, to his knowledge, the only Jewish councillor on the council, stated: "I find it galling, and frankly offensive, for the national Labour Party to demand that I prove, yet again, that I am not antisemitic, in order to allow their councillors to continue working with me."
The former alliance held 25 seats. The Greens now have 18 seats, leaving them without a majority. The Lewes Labour Group declined to comment.
Wealden District Council
Wealden District Council is controlled by the Alliance for Wealden, which involves the Green Party, Liberal Democrats, Labour and an independent councillor. Wealden's Green group distanced itself from the national motion in an open letter on 23 October, stating: "To be clear, our Green Group does not support the 'Zionism is Racism' policy."
Green councillor Rachel Millward, who leads the council, said she voted against the motion because she believed it would be divisive. The remaining parties in the alliance still hold 23 seats, the number needed to maintain a majority.
Arun District Council
At Arun District Council in West Sussex, Labour has confirmed it is withdrawing from a cross-party administration involving Greens, Liberal Democrats and independents. The existing administration held 30 seats. With Labour's eight councillors leaving, the remaining groups would have 22 seats, losing their majority.
Rother District Council
Labour and Green councillors will continue working together at Rother District Council in East Sussex as part of a cross-party administration.
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