Sheffield Council leader gives Greens ultimatum after "shameful and antisemitic" motion

The Sheffield Green Party faces an ultimatum over whether it can continue jointly running the city's council.

The demand comes after the national Greens backed an "antisemitic" motion at their party conference earlier this month.

The Labour leader of Sheffield City Council Fran Belbin called the "Zionism is Racism" motion "shameful and antisemitic".

She confirmed Sheffield Labour have been privately pressing Councillor Angela Argenzio, leader of the Green group, to offer reassurances to Sheffield's Jewish community since the motion was approved.

Now the future of their collaborative administration is on the line.

Coun Belbin said: "Due to the inaction of Sheffield Greens, we have today written to their group leader urging them to publicly reject this motion in order for our joint administration to continue.

"Sheffield Labour is proud to oppose racism in all its forms, including antisemitism, and will not stand by while the Green Party undermines the right to self-determination for Palestinians and Israelis."

This comes after the national Labour Party chairwoman, Bridget Phillipson, said local collaboration with Greens will end unless they reject the “Zionism Is Racism” motion.

Ms Phillipson said: "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.

In a post to Facebook, Coun Belbin added: "Sheffield Labour has a proud tradition of support for Palestine, from being the first city to recognise Palestine in 2019 and the Labour Government has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

Labour MP for Penistone & Stocksbridge Marie Tidball has thrown her weight behind the action, saying: "After the motion passed at Green Party Conference earlier this month, Fran Belbin and Sheffield Labour pressed their Green counterparts privately to offer reassurance to Sheffield's Jewish community. That reassurance hasn't come.

"So, Sheffield Labour has now written to the Green group leader, urging them to publicly reject the motion if the joint administration with Labour is to continue. I fully support that."

"We continue to work towards a two-state solution, with freedom, security and self-determination for both Palestinians and Israelis."

Coun Argenzio previously said: "On behalf of your local Green councillors, I can say unequivocally that we do not, and will not, conflate either Zionism and Judaism, nor anti-Zionism with antisemitism."

Sheffield Greens have been approached for a comment in response to Labour's ultimatum.

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