Hung parliament looms for Labour

A major poll suggests Britain is heading for a hung parliament, meaning Labour under Andy Burnham may need coalition partners like the Greens and Lib Dems to form the next government.

Greens declare Zionism is racism

At their annual conference this weekend, Green Party members adopted a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism, triggering immediate backlash from Jewish leaders and organisations.

Jewish leaders condemn the motion

Rabbi Charley Baginsky called the motion a racist policy. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and Jewish Leadership Council said it brands British Jews as racist and stokes anti-Jewish hatred.

“Branding most British Jews and Jewish institutions 'racist' stokes anti-Jewish hatred after a year in which British Jews have been murdered attending their synagogue, stabbed in the streets, and seen their community buildings firebombed.”

Labour's antisemitism wounds still raw

Andy Burnham spent years rebuilding Labour's reputation after an Equality and Human Rights Commission finding that the party culture did not do enough to prevent antisemitism. He will not risk reigniting that controversy.

Labour MPs reject coalition option

One Labour MP told The Independent after the Green vote that no one should contemplate a coalition unless the Greens urgently revise their position on Zionism.

“No one should be contemplating it [a coalition] unless the Greens urgently revise their position.”

Polanski's by-election test looms

Green leader Zack Polanski is standing in Thursday's by-election in Keir Starmer's old seat of Holborn and St Pancras. A strong result could push Burnham to call an election sooner, forcing the coalition question.