British PM condemns Green Party for ‘Zionism is racism’ motion, rules out partnership

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has firmly denounced the Green Party's motion declaring Zionism as a form of racism, describing it as "antisemitic" and refusing to consider a coalition with the Greens. In a statement at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session, Burnham declared that his party "will have nothing to do with it."

Conservative MP Harriett Baldwin called on Burnham to rule out any cooperation with the Greens over the issue. The Green Party's motion, approved at their recent annual conference, declares Zionism a form of racism and supports a single democratic Palestinian state with equal rights for all groups. This marks the first major UK political party to adopt such a stance.

The Israeli government immediately banned Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, from entering Israel, accusing the Greens of antisemitism. The United States also made "representations" to the British government regarding the issue, potentially amounting to antisemitism. Labour MPs have reported the party to the police over the matter, and pro-Israel advocates have targeted Green Party members.

Despite calls for an amendment to the motion, it was defeated, and Green MPs have criticized it, with Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos endorsing the rejection of Zionism as an ideology and practice.