Labour threatens to end power-sharing deals with the Green Party over 'Zionism is racism' policy

Labour will end power-sharing deals with the Greens unless local branches disavow their party's controversial 'Zionism is racism' policy.

The Green Party motion calls for Israel to be treated like apartheid South Africa and has been branded anti-Semitic.

Labour chairman Bridget Phillipson finally announced on Thursday that Labour was giving local Green Party branches a last chance. 

She said: 'Where local Labour parties currently have an arrangement with the Greens in local government, we expect their Green counterparts to make clear that they reject this position and to call on their national leadership to reconsider the policy.

'Where they are unable to provide that assurance, Labour will bring any such local arrangement to an end.'

Labour said that local Green Party branches have seven days to respond. 

According to a Daily Mail analysis, as many as nine council administrations could be under threat if the deals collapse.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has announced it has written to the Green Party over the motion, following demands for an investigation.

The Greens said: 'For the Labour Government to conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism is disappointing.'