Sheffield Labour terminates coalition with Greens after attempt to salvage deal fails

Sheffield Labour has ended its coalition agreement with the Green Party after more than a week of tense discussions to maintain the deal.

The local Labour group on Sheffield City Council was among almost a dozen to sever council power-sharing agreements after local Green parties did not publicly distance themselves from the controversial ‘Zionism is racism’ motion, passed at the Green Party’s annual conference.

Moments before a full council meeting last week to announce the split, eleventh-hour talks appeared to offer the prospect of continuing the agreement, with the local Green Party distancing themselves from elements of the contentious motion.

However, Labour council leader Fran Belbin said that the Greens had “been unable to take the steps needed to give our city the certainty we need”.

She also criticised historic social media posts from Green Party councillor Mustafa Ahmed shortly after the October 7 attack in Israel, calling the response from the councillor and the party “deeply disappointing”.

Belbin said: “Despite the very best efforts and intentions of the Sheffield Labour Party, it is clear that the joint administration with the Green Party in Sheffield must come to an end. We cannot, in good faith, continue our partnership with a group where such blatant antisemitism is not adequately challenged.”

Ahmed denied allegations of antisemitism and told the Sheffield Star: “I strongly reject…any suggestion that I harbour hatred towards Jewish people or celebrate violence against innocent people. I stand firmly against antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism. Justice for Palestinians and the safety and dignity of Jewish people are not competing causes. I will always stand for both.”

The Sheffield Green Party accused Labour’s National Executive Committee of vetoing “good faith” talks and said: “Sheffield Greens remain committed to cooperation and local democracy. Unfortunately, it seems that decisions for Sheffield Labour are made in London, and political games are prioritised over local needs.”

The Labour Party was approached for comment.

Council control in other affected administrations

• Arun: Liberal Democrat/Green/independent council maintains control as minority administration
• Derbyshire Dales: Liberal Democrats and Greens maintain control as minority administration
• Havant: Labour and Liberal Democrats maintain control as minority administration
• Lewes: Greens maintain control as minority administration
• Runnymede: Labour/Liberal Democrat/local and independent administration retains majority control
• Sheffield: Labour minority administration
• Stafford: Labour and local independents maintain control as minority administration
• Warwick: Greens maintain control as minority administration
• Wealden: ‘Alliance for Wealden’ (Liberal Democrats/Green/independent) retain majority control
• West Devon: Independent/Liberal Democrat/Green administration retains majority control
• West Suffolk: Labour/Liberal Democrat/local and independent administration retains council control