Havant Borough Council coalition disintegrates after Greens refuse to denounce 'Zionism is Racism' policy

Havant Borough Council’s ‘rainbow coalition’ will be dissolved following an ultimatum set by the Labour government, who stated that they would end power-sharing agreements with the Green Party on local councils.

Havant Borough Council was run by a coalition administration led by Labour with the Green Party, and the Liberal Democrats. Following the May 2026 local elections, Labour Councillor Gillian Harris was appointed as Leader of the Council, with Green Group Leader Councillor Netty Shepherd appointed as Deputy Leader.

In October, the central Labour party said it would end power-sharing agreements with the Green Party on local councils, unless Green councillors disown the party's newly-adopted policy that Zionism is a form of racism.

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The policy adopted by members of the Green Party of England and Wales on October 4 said that Zionism was an ideology that supported an "ethnonationalist Jewish state" that had led to the "disenfranchisement and destruction" of Palestinians. The policy backs the creation of a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine", including Israel.

Cllr Netty Shepherd, leader of the Havant Green group, said the councillors would not denounce the policy. In a letter to Cllr Gillian Harris, she said: “I reject the accusation that the motion is antisemitic and that therefore we the Green Party are antisemitic.

“The ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people in the name of Zionism is racist and should be condemned by all parties regardless of the colour of their rosettes.

“We, the Green Group, utterly condemn antisemitism and all forms of racism, discrimination and bigotry.”

In a statement made on social media, the Havant Labour Group said it was “deeply concerned” by the motion. It said: “In our view, the motion rejects the principle of a two-state solution and the right of both Jewish and Palestinian people to have a safe and secure homeland. We are concerned that it risks conflating the actions of the Israeli Government with the aspirations and identity of Jewish people more broadly.

“It is therefore disappointing that the Havant Green Party has chosen not to distance itself from this motion. As a consequence, our National Executive Committee has requested that we bring to an end the coalition arrangements that we have worked hard to make successful over the past two years.

“While we regret this outcome, we remain committed to working constructively with colleagues across the council where possible. Above all, we will continue to put the interests of Havant residents first and ensure that local people do not suffer as a result of differences in national party policy.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Havant Borough Council said: “Havant’s Green Group did not renounce the policy or ask for it to be reconsidered. Councillors Netty Shepherd (Deputy Leader of the Council, Cabinet Lead for Public Realm), Jonathan Hulls (Cabinet Lead for Coastal, Coastal Communities and Local Plan) and Grainne Rason (Assistant Cabinet Lead for Climate and Nature) will no longer be Cabinet members. They remain as ward councillors.”

Chair of the Labour Party Bridget Phillipson said: “Any local power sharing arrangement cannot come at the expense of upholding the moral obligation we have to stand up for everyone in our communities and the values we share.

“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.

“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.

“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 root out antisemitism within our own party and ensure it had no place in our politics. Our action is a demonstration of how today’s Labour Party will not shirk from the responsibility we have to uphold those same standards in our relationships with other parties.”

Mr Polanski said in a post on X: “This will backfire on Labour.

“The Green Party want to tax billionaires, tackle the climate crisis and stop arming a genocide.

“Labour want to interrupt your local services & impose genocide support from it’s (sic) local councils. Andy Burnham revealing himself and his project….”

The Green Party and its Local Government Association group representing councillors condemned Labour’s move, warning it would cause disruption at authorities affected by the dissolution of power sharing agreements.

In a statement, the party said: “Across the country, Green, Labour, Independent and Liberal Democrat councillors have worked together to provide stable local government, protect services and deliver positive change. Leaders across these parties are rightly proud of what those partnerships have achieved.

“Those who issued ultimatums that destabilised power sharing agreements have often ignored the judgments of their own local leaders, failed to respect the choices made by local voters, and are disrupting successful partnerships.

“The Green Party believes top-down directives to break up and disrupt locally run services are not in the interests of the residents we represent. We trust local communities, local councillors and local leaders to know what is best for them. We ask that others do the same.”

Power sharing between the Labour and Greens will be or already has been withdrawn in on 10 other council across the UK, but will continue in seven others, in defiance of the central Labour party’s directive.