The power sharing pact that runs Warwick District Council remains at risk of falling apart with Green councillors describing a Labour ultimatum as "political intimidation".

The Green Party and Labour joined forces to run the district following the May 2023 local elections under the leadership of Cllr Ian Davison.

It has not been without local bumps with then-Labour cabinet member Helen Adkins resigning from the council altogether last year following a row with Cllr Lowell Williams.

Things have been more settled lately but a timebomb was placed under the partnership last week when national Labour figures set a seven-day deadline for Green councillors to distance themselves from their party's controversial stance that Zionism – a movement that supports a Jewish state in Palestine – is racism.

That position was formed through a motion passed at the recent Green Party conference. It also rejects a two-state solution in the Middle East and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state "with equal rights for all".

Prime minister Andy Burnham MP declared the motion "antisemitic" with Labour chair Bridget Phillipson MP later insisting that Green representatives who work with Labour on councils would be asked "to make clear that they reject this position and to call on their national leadership to reconsider", requesting a response "as a matter of urgency".

"Where they are unable to provide that assurance, Labour will bring any such local arrangement to an end," said Ms Phillipson.

It was widely reported last Thursday (October 15) that Green councillors had seven days to respond, the seventh day (Thursday, October 22) ironically being the next public-facing meeting of Warwick District Council's cabinet where decisions on fees and charges for 2027-28, changes related to national planning laws and the future of tennis courts at Abbey Fields, Kenilworth, are set to be taken, as well as consideration of the council's current budget position.

Green statements

On Wednesday, Warwick District's Green Party released a statement from its councillors and an open letter to their Labour counterparts from Cllr Davison.

The letter states that the "general consensus" was that Green councillors "do not agree with the (Zionism) motion as it stands" but stopped short of rejecting it outright.

Cllr Davison wrote: "We are not going to debate every aspect of the motion because national Labour has issued us an ultimatum. Also, I'm sure you're aware that Green Party leaders cannot overrule a conference decision.

"Our leader, Zack Polanski, and several green MPs have publicly explained that they do not support the motion as it stands."

He goes on to express "hope that a way can be found to continue delivering for our residents", adding that he would "welcome ongoing dialogue with you (Labour councillors) to seek a constructive way forward".

The statement was more front-foot.

"Warwick District Green Party rejects the national Labour party's attempt to undermine Green Party democracy," it read.

"Our member-led democracy is what makes the Green Party different from top-down parties like Labour and is a quality we take great pride in. We refuse to condemn a democratically decided policy because of political intimidation. We respect that individual members have their own views on all Green Party policies and have the right to express them."

It closes with the vow that Green councillors "will continue our day-by-day hard work to serve everyone who lives here".

Cllr Davison forwarded the statements when contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. He has yet to respond to a second attempt to speak to him.

Labour group leader Cllr Jess Melrose referred the Local Democracy Reporting Service approach to her party's regional office. It is awaiting contact from their representative.

What now?

The Greens hold 14 of the 44 seats on Warwick District Council. Labour hold seven, meaning that the pact is just shy of a majority anyway.

One of the unanswered questions is what happens if the pact is dissolved.

Cllr Davison is set to remain as leader until the May 2027 local elections unless he relinquishes the role or loses it through a challenge from fellow councillors.

As long as he remains in post he has the discretion to appoint who he sees fit to the cabinet, meaning any Labour drop-outs could simply be replaced by Green councillors or from other groups if a deal can be struck.

If opponents are not happy, they can trigger a challenge– a vote of no confidence – which may prove tough to fight with 14 seats and 30 opposition councillors to win over.