Labour to propose running Sheffield Council alone after Zionism motion sends administration into chaos

Sheffield Labour are expected cut ties with the Greens at a full council meeting this week

The leader of Sheffield council said trust in the Greens is “completely broken” and announced plans to put forward a Labour-only administration at a full council meeting this week.

Coun Belbin said this does affect Sheffield "in very real ways" | One Sheffield Many Communities

placeholder image — Coun Belbin said this does affect Sheffield "in very real ways" | One Sheffield Many Communities

Labour has 26 of 84 councillors on Sheffield City Council since the May local elections has run the in a joint administration with the Greens.

But this collaboration has been at risk since the national Green Party voted to adopt a motion that “Zionism is Racism” and advocated a one-state solution to the Israel Palestine conflict.

Leader of the council Fran Belbin said: “The Greens that we formed a joint administration with feel like a very different organisation now."

She confirmed that at full council on Wednesday (November 4) her party will put forward a Labour minority administration to officially end the joint leadership with the Greens.

In a letter to Councillor and Sheffield Green leader Angela Argenzio, Coun Belbin said the Zionism motion: “Condemns the vast majority of British Jews and Jews around the world as racist simply for supporting Israel’s existence.

“It also rejects a two-state solution, which remains the only credible basis for a just and lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.”

In a statement on why Sheffield Labour "cannot continue" the joint administration, Coun Belbin said: “We know that the majority of Sheffield Green councillors did not support the motion.

"Many did not attend the conference, and Cllr Argenzio, the Green leader, like Zack Polanski, avoided the vote and went to the Holborn and St Pancras by election on the day it was debated.

“However three of their councillors, including two committee chairs, have very publicly supported it – Cllrs Dimond, Raouf and Ahmed.”

Sheffield's Labour and Green leadership could end this week | Sheffield City Council

Councillor Alexi Dimond and Councillor Maroof Raouf are both chairs on Sheffield City Council committees, positions they hold because Greens are in a joint leadership with Labour.

Coun Belbin pointed to public interviews where Coun Dimond and Coun Raouf “restated their support for the motion, in very confrontational terms."

Coun Dimond called the conflation of Zionism with Judaism "disgusting" and Coun Raouf said he "will not be resigning" from his chair position and "will not let the yellow or red army bully me."

Coun Belbin said: “Their ongoing misrepresentation of Sheffield Labour’s views and stated positions have all contributed to that breakdown of trust.”

The Green position believes conflating Zionism with Judaism is antisemitic, however Coun Belbin believes "Zionism actually takes many forms - including secular, socialist and anti-racist - and the majority of our Jewish population are vehemently opposed to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

She said Sheffield Labour's "bottom line" was that that not all Zionists are racists, and if the Greens could "at least acknowledge the fear amongst many in our Jewish population and address their concerns," they could have won back Labour's trust.

She said: "There is huge diversity amongst those who describe themselves as Zionist in Sheffield and to label them all as racists is not only offensive but alienates allies advocating for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Gaza."

Local Labour politicians campaigning for Palestine including Coun Minesh Parekh, council leader Fran Belbin, ex-councillor Nabeela Mowlana, Coun Zahira Naz and MP Abtisam Mohamed | Minesh Parekh

She said this does affect Sheffield "in very real ways" because "Antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of racism are on the rise."

She said: "Many Jewish Sheffielders are deeply fearful of the consequences of demonising all Zionists. Zionism takes many forms - including secular, socialist and anti-racist - and the majority of our Jewish residents are vehemently opposed to Israel’s actions in Gaza."

However, she said normal council service would continue.

“Council services will be unaffected by this change and we will continue to focus on the issues that matter to our citizens, including tackling poverty, improving our neighbourhoods and creating opportunities for young people.

“Through our committee system, all councillors will continue to contribute to decision making, and we hope and expect the spirit of professionalism and collegiality we have seen in recent years will continue so that we can together take decisions in the best interests of all Sheffielders.”

Sheffield Green Group have been contacted and are expected to soon share their response.