Labour orders councillors to end power share with the Greens on Warwick District Council

The authority has been run by a Green-Labour coalition since May 2023 but that now must be pulled apart within the next two weeks on the back of instructions from Labour’s hierarchy.

It centres around a controversial motion that was passed at the recent Green Party conference, declaring that 'Zionism is racism'.

The row has rumbled on for two-and-a-half weeks with continuing uncertainty prompting former leader Councillor Andrew Day (Con, Bishop’s Tachbrook) to call for an impromptu debate on the future of current leader Councillor Ian Davison (Green, Leamington Brunswick) at last week’s meeting of full council, one that was narrowly voted down by Green, Labour and independent councillors.

How we got here

The Green's 'Zionism is racism' motion, voted on by less than one per cent of the party’s national membership but still stands as policy because it was passed, rejects a two-state solution in the Middle East while calling for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state “with equal rights for all”.

Prime minister Andy Burnham MP (Lab) called the position “antisemitic” with Labour chair Bridget Phillipson MP then telling Green councillors in areas where they work alongside Labour that such arrangements would be ended if they did not reject the policy and call on national figures to intervene.

Cllr Davison responded by saying the “general consensus” was that his councillors “do not agree with the motion as it stands” but stopped short of rejecting it outright.

He stressed that “Green Party leaders cannot overrule a conference decision” while a further statement on behalf of Warwick District’s Green councillors decried the “ultimatum” as an attempt at “political intimidation”.

Labour’s group leader on Warwick District Council Councillor Jess Melrose (Leamington Clarendon) then issued a statement that she said had come from her party’s West Midlands regional office.

It welcomed the district leader’s “rejection” of the motion but spelled his name incorrectly, referring to him as Cllr ‘Davidson’.

During an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Melrose declined to address the significant difference between the Green statements and Labour’s interpretation of them, an interpretation that Labour’s national executive seemingly did not share.

The plot thickened when a representative of Labour’s West Midlands regional office insisted it had not sent the statement. Cllr Melrose was approached again but declined to comment.

Now the arrangement, which sees Labour fill three of the district’s nine cabinet positions, must come to an end.

A statement issued by the West Midlands office included words from Ms Phillipson.

“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," she wrote.

“Labour councillors will keep working hard every day for their local residents and will always act in the best interests of their area.

"We are pleased that some local Green Parties have rightly opted to disavow this policy and have called on their party’s leadership to do the same.

"It is disappointing that some local Green Parties have not met the conditions Labour has set out. Labour continues to oppose this divisive policy and calls on the Green Party to do the right thing and rescind it."

What now?

Cllr Melrose looks after housing, Councillor Chris King (Lab, Leamington Clarendon) is the deputy leader of the council and heads up place, which includes planning and work on the South Warwickshire Local Plan.

Councillor Jim Sinnott (Lab, Warwick All Saltisford) looks after safer, healthier and active communities, something that sees him sit on the Warwickshire Police & Crime Panel that oversees the work of Police & Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe (Con).

The Greens have 14 out of 44 seats on the district, although two independents – Councillor Lowell Williams (Kenilworth Park Hill) and Councillor Sam Jones (Warwick All Saints & Woodloes) – were elected as independents.

Labour currently hold seven seats, so the coalition was just shy of a majority anyway, but the new position could cast fresh doubt over the future of Cllr Davison’s leadership.

He is set to serve as leader until the end of his term – May 2027 – or until he steps down or is removed by a vote of full council.

Cllr Day’s call to debate his tenure was voted down on Wednesday but it would only take a second councillor to support him bringing it to a full council meeting with notice – and Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Alan Boad (Leamington Lillington) supported holding the debate last week.

If it happens, a straight vote on the leader’s future then takes place and ousting him brings down the entire administration. Whoever the new leader is would then select their cabinet from scratch.

No blanket ban

Labour's demand for councillors to withdraw from power sharing or confidence-and-supply arrangements applies to 11 local authorities but not every area that was at risk with some allowed to continue pacts.

Cooperation is to be withdrawn at Arun District Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Havant Borough Council, Lewes District Council, Sheffield City Council, Stafford Borough Council, Wealden District Council, West Devon Borough Council and West Suffolk Council.

Labour says that there is "no formal arrangement in place" at Coventry City Council but with the conditions unmet, no such arrangement will be made in future.

Arrangements are permitted to continue at Broadland District Council, Monmouthshire County Council, North Somerset Council, Rother District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and West Sussex County Council, and with the Green Mayor of the West of England.