Andy Burnham has ruled out a future power-sharing deal with the Green Party – branding the party “antisemitic” over its controversial decision to describe Zionism as racism.
Challenged on the policy during prime minister’s questions (PMQs), Mr Burnham said he condemned it and would not support a “partnership” with Zack Polanski’s party while it remained in place.
He had been urged by Tory MP Dame Harriet Baldwin to rule out any future deal with the Greens in the same way Kemi Badenoch did with Reform UK, after she had branded their comments on Englishness racist – a stance praised earlier in PMQs by Mr Burnham.
Mr Burnham said: “Can I condemn the motion that was passed unequivocally? It is wrong. It is antisemitic, and this side of the House will have nothing to do with it.
“And we will always take the right response when it comes to any partnerships we have with other parties. We cannot support a partnership with a party that holds a position that has recently been adopted.”
The issue has been made more urgent because of claims that there could be an early general election, with the polls suggesting a centre-left coalition is the most likely outcome.
And because Mr Burnham used his Labour conference speech to say he would press for electoral reform to a more proportional system, which means future governments would more likely be formed from coalitions with other parties.
But with the YouGov poll this week suggesting the Greens have slipped to just 8 per cent in the polls, their influence appears to be dropping.
The prime minister’s comments were welcomed after pressure had mounted in Labour for him to make a clear statement on the Greens.
David Lammy’s former adviser in the Foreign Office Ben Judah told The Independent: “It is hugely welcome that Andy Burnham appears to have ruled out a partnership with the Green Party as long as they subscribe to this policy that has caused such shock and distress in the Jewish community.”
Adam Langleben, the executive director of Progress, said: “Andy Burnham is totally right. The motion is the most antisemitic motion passed by any major political party in Europe, ever. Zack Polanski is too afraid of the monster he helped create to provide the leadership needed to tackle this.”
Last week The Independent revealed that they and other senior figures were calling on the prime minister to rule out a coalition with the Greens over the issue.
The motion passed by the Greens at their conference in Manchester has been condemned by former party leader Caroline Lucas as well as the party’s own MPs.
Mr Polanski was criticised for not showing leadership on the issue after he failed to vote because he was fighting the by-election in Holborn and St Pancras where he was defeated last week by Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali.
While Mr Polanski had wanted the controversial motion to be amended, he has pushed back against claims that it was antisemitic.
Earlier this week he posted on social media: “As a British Jew, I'm deeply concerned about the cynical blurring of Zionism & Judaism. Whatever our political differences, Jewish people must never face prejudice or discrimination. So after the Labour government apologised over Gaza: why are they still arming Israel?”
Responding to Mr Burnham, he said: “I'm the only Jewish leader of a political party.
“I'm a victim of antisemitism every day and I've made it clear Jewish people are welcome in my party. You're a prime minister who arms a genocide and locks pensioners up for opposing it.”
Read MoreUkraine war live: Russia ‘confused’ by Trump’s energy ceasefire as attacks continue
King welcomes Zelensky with audience at Buckingham Palace
UK to decide on drilling North Sea ‘shortly’ as energy bills rise
Burnham told to ‘come clean’ as further dinners with Man City chairman emerge
Why does Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey matter?
Badenoch and Farage embroiled in furious row over Falklands and Chagos Islands
-4_75890-copy-b3f88f08.jpeg?width=1200&auto=webp&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
