Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester and Member of Parliament, announced on Wednesday that he cannot collaborate with the Green Party. This announcement came after the Green Party adopted a position at its annual conference that considers Zionism a form of racism.
Green Party's Position at the Annual Conference
The Green Party adopted a position at its annual conference that defines Zionism as support for "a Jewish ethnocentric state." Members of the party also expressed their support for the establishment of "a democratic Palestinian state across all of historic Palestine." This position faced severe criticism, and Burnham responded to it.
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Burnham's Reaction to the Green Party's Position
During Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, Burnham condemned the Green Party's position, stating: "This position is incorrect. This position is anti-Semitic, and we have no connection to it." He also emphasized that "we will always respond appropriately regarding any collaboration with other parties, and we cannot collaborate with a party that has adopted such a position."
Currently, Burnham holds the majority in the House of Commons, but according to a model published by YouGov, the Labour Party will be the largest party in a hung parliament in the upcoming general election scheduled for mid-2029.
Impact on Local Relations
The Green Party currently has five representatives in the House of Commons and managed to gain its first seat from the Labour Party in a by-election in Greater Manchester last February. Zach Polanski, the leader of the Green Party, recently lost in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. This election took place just a few days after the Green Party's position was adopted.
Labour Party officials were unable to quickly determine what impact Burnham's position would have on local collaborations between the Labour Party and the Green Party. Polanski stated that he did not agree with this position but did not vote due to his campaign in this election. Senior party figures such as Caroline Lucas and Adrian Ramsay, as well as Ellie Chowns, the leader of the House of Commons, protested this position. Mathin Ali, the deputy leader of the party, supported this position.
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