The Green and Labour groups on Lewes District Council have ended their cooperative arrangement after what council leader Zoe Nicholson described as undue external pressure.
The reported cause was national Labour Party intervention aimed at local Green councillors participating in Labour coalitions, with pressure for them to reject the Green Party’s motion stating that Zionism is racism.
Nicholson said the two groups had mutually decided to terminate the partnership because the national situation and pressures beyond the council made continuation impossible.
Despite ending the alliance, both parties are expected to continue representing their respective portfolios and working together in the interests of local residents, although they will operate in separate roles.
Nicholson also confirmed that amendments to Cabinet responsibilities would be announced when appropriate.
The alliance had been in jeopardy earlier in the month after the national Green Party approved the Zionism is racism motion at its conference in Brighton.
Lewes Green councillors subsequently rejected the motion following an ultimatum from the national Labour Party, which threatened to end coalitions involving the Greens unless they withdrew their support.
Local Green members also criticised the pressure imposed by national Labour representatives.
Ezra Cohen, deputy leader of the council’s Green group and, to his knowledge, its only Jewish councillor, strongly opposed the demand.
He said national Labour officials had required him to demonstrate again that he was not antisemitic before allowing Labour councillors to continue working alongside him.
In her announcement about the coalition’s conclusion, Nicholson praised Labour councillors Christine Robinson and Laurence O’Connor.
She described Robinson, the former alliance’s deputy leader and a Cabinet member, as inspiring and committed, while recognising O’Connor’s diligent management of a particularly demanding portfolio.
The Lewes Labour Group declined to comment.