Labour poised to sacrifice power-sharing council deals with Greens if local parties don't reject 'Zionism is racism' stance within a week

Labour is poised to sacrifice power-sharing deals with the Greens on local councils amid the anti-Semitism crisis engulfing Zack Polanski's party.

In the wake of the Greens backing a 'Zionism is racism' motion at their conference this month, Labour is conducting a review of its arrangements across local government.

Labour is currently in coalition with the Greens on local councils in Sheffield, Lewes and Warwick, while, in more than 10 other areas, Labour run the council with the Greens as part of a broader coalition.

All local Labour groups currently sharing power with the Greens are now being urged to review their arrangements and obtain assurances from their Green counterparts.

They are being ordered to seek a 'clear and unambiguous statement' that local Greens reject the 'Zionism is racism' stance.

Labour councillors are also being told to get confirmation that local Green groups will call on their party's national leadership to rethink the motion.

Local Green groups are being given a seven-day deadline to respond. They have been warned that their power-sharing arrangements with Labour will be axed if the conditions are not met. 

It comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday ruled out a national partnership with the Greens following their passing of the 'anti-Semitic' motion.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Burnham told MPs that Labour 'cannot support a partnership with a party that holds the position that has recently been adopted'.

'I condemn the motion that was passed unequivocally,' the PM added. 'It is wrong, it is anti-Semitic, and this side of the House will have nothing to do with it.'

Mr Burnham's comments sparked questions about Labour's approach to the Greens at a local level and their slew of power-sharing deals on councils.

On Thursday, Labour announced they were requiring all local parties to write to their local Greens to give them the opportunity to disown the policy.

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said: 'The PM has been completely clear: this policy is wrong and anti-Semitic, and has no place in British politics.

'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.

'We have asked local Green groups to respond as a matter of urgency. Where they are unable to provide that assurance, Labour will bring any such local arrangement to an end.

'This isn't an issue of party politics; it's about doing what is right and upholding the values anyone holding public office should share.

'The Labour Party fought hard to address anti-Semitism within our own party and ensure it had no place in our politics.

'We have a responsibility to uphold those same standards in our relationships with other parties.'

A vote by Green members at their conference in Brighton saw the party support the 'Zionism is racism'.

A storm of criticism has seen the motion described as an 'attack' on the Jewish community and the Greens branded 'an extremist party'.

Opponents also claim the motion effectively calls for the eradication of Israel as it refers only to a single Palestinian state.

Mr Polanski, the Green leader, controversially skipped the conference vote on the motion on 4 October in order to campaign ahead of last week's Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

His decision to focus on his bid to become an MP rather than remain in Brighton saw him accused of a 'lack of leadership' by critics from within his own party. 

Mr Polanski then went on to lose the contest in the north London constituency to Labour, which added to questions over his leadership of the Greens.