Havant Greens refuse to renounce 'Zionism is racism' policy, but want to keep council coalition

The leader of the Havant Green Party has refused to condemn the controversial ‘Zionism is racism’ policy, threatening the future of Havant Borough Council’s ‘rainbow coalition’ between Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

The central Labour party has said it will end power-sharing agreements with the Green Party on local councils, unless Green councillors disown the party's newly-adopted policy that states that Zionism is an ideology that supports an "ethnonationalist Jewish state" that has led to the "disenfranchisement and destruction" of Palestinians.

In a letter to Cllr Gillian Harris, Leader of the Council, Head of the Havant Greens Cllr Netty Shepherd said: “I reject the accusation that the motion is antisemitic and that therefore we the Green Party are antisemitic.

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“This accusation is totally unfounded and seeks to conflate criticism of Israel and/or Zionism with antisemitism. This conflation is both irresponsible and antisemitic, making Jewish people feel less safe, not more safe. We want to reaffirm that the Green Party wholeheartedly supports the rights of Jewish and Palestinian people equally.

“Our leaders don’t write policy and have no powers in our Constitution to reverse motions voted for in Conference. Asking me to ask them to do something you and I both know they have no power to do is rather pointless, unless of course it is designed to force the Labour Party out of our Alliance. I cannot and will not comply with this request.

“For me the central truth of our motion is this - 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. This is not a matter of personal opinion to be debated in the chamber, experts around the world have said that the actions of the Netanyahu government amount to genocide. That is racism writ large and no chorus of disapproval or accusations of antisemtism can change that.

“I recognise that the wording of the motion is problematic for some and is creating division and fear, precisely at a time when we all need to fear less and look to what we have in common, not what sets us apart. I understand that some members of the Jewish community are feeling worried and hurt and I take that concern seriously. We, the Green Group, utterly condemn antisemitism and all forms of racism, discrimination and bigotry.

“We are working hard to build tolerant inclusive communities both here at home and in the world at large and will continue to work to ensure that the Green Party is an anti-racist party.”

Addressing the future of the coalition, Cllr Shepherd said: “My Green Councillors and I are proud of what we have achieved together - record investment in our community, creating local jobs for local people by bringing services in house, keeping families in their homes when they are faced with eviction, supporting local sports and arts centres - helping them to attract significant funding that is making a difference to the wellbeing of our residents.

“None of the above would have been possible by one party alone and I am sure it is understood within the Havant Constituency Labour Party, that it is our collective effort that has made everything possible. Throughout our partnership, our working together has not been conditional upon agreeing with every policy or decision of the National Labour Party.

“We have opposed the rowing back on climate and nature protections that are enshrined in law and the Labour Party’s position on the genocide in Gaza. These matters of principle for us have not prevented us from working with your party to achieve our common goal of a fairer, more prosperous borough.

“We have respected your right to hold different positions from ourselves, just as we have expected you to respect ours. Foreign policy matters are quite rightly dealt with by Central Government. We can debate the matter outside of the chamber, but inside the chamber what matters is what we are doing for our residents, not the rest of the world. Party policy has never been the basis of our partnership and we the Green Party Group in Havant do not believe it to be appropriate to change that now.

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“Ending a partnership that is successfully delivering for residents will not make our communities safer, resolve the conflict in the Middle East or tackle the racism and division that we both oppose. We may represent different communities, but we all want a stable administration that delivers for all residents across the borough. I believe we have far more in common than divides us.

“On that basis I ask you to continue to work with Havant Greens, we value you as colleagues and I believe that you value us too. We have navigated some difficult decisions in the past and I trust we can navigate this too.”

Cllr Shepherd has invited Cllr Harris and her fellow Labour councillors to meet with the Greens next week for “an opportunity to talk openly and honestly”.

The News has approached Councillor Gillian Harris for comment.