Green Party faces criticism over treatment of women

The Green Party of England and Wales, under the leadership of Zack Polanski, has recently found itself at the center of a heated internal dispute over sex, gender and free expression. What began as a routine request for a conference stall has escalated into a legal fight and a wider debate about how political movements handle dissenting views on biology and women’s rights.

The row pits the Green Women’s Declaration (GWD), a campaign group focused on women’s rights, against party officials who introduced new guidance on what they call “queerphobia.” The resulting clash raises questions about protected beliefs under the Equality Act, party discipline, and whether mainstream politics is prepared to tolerate public disagreement on sensitive social issues.

How a cancelled stall turned into a courtroom dispute

Last year, the Green Women’s Declaration booked space at the party conference to engage members on issues affecting women. Two days before the event, the party rescinded the reservation. GWD says officials did not offer a reason and that the decision followed online attacks aimed at the group for its gender-critical position.

At the center of the dispute is a 2023 internal document circulated by the party called “Guidance to identify queerphobia.” That guidance warns that statements which deny or minimize gender identity—such as referring to a trans woman as a biological man—can be treated as discriminatory. GWD’s lawyers argue this guidance effectively targets and excludes gender-critical beliefs that, they maintain, are protected under the Equality Act.

• GWD’s position: The guidance “precisely encapsulates” gender-critical views and thus unlawfully restricts protected beliefs.
• Party action: Stall booking cancelled; disciplinary measures and deplatforming reportedly applied to some members.
• Legal step: GWD has launched a claim against the Green Party, describing the stall removal as deliberate and unlawful.

What the campaigners say and how they pressed the party

Attempts to resolve the issue internally

Zoe Hatch, director of GWD, says the group exhausted internal avenues before going public. According to Hatch, they sent letters, raised whistleblowing concerns and met with senior staff, including the party CEO, without getting satisfactory answers. She describes the cancellation as the latest in a sequence of punitive responses to women who express gender-critical views.

GWD frames the dispute as a test of whether women can participate in political life while holding beliefs the law protects. They stress that long-serving women activists and volunteers have faced sanctions or censorship for expressing those views.

Party leadership and a separate controversy over protests

The dispute over women’s rights coincided with a separate controversy involving the party’s deputy leader, Mothin Ali. Footage and reports placed him at a demonstration where attendees chanted slogans hostile to the United States and where he was photographed alongside members of the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC). The IHRC has previously been characterized in an independent review as ideologically aligned with the Iranian regime and linked to groups with extremist sympathies.

Ali’s past remarks have also attracted attention. After the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 he used language that some interpreted as praise for the operation, and, after winning a council seat in Leeds, publicly celebrated in a way that linked the victory to Gaza. These incidents have prompted critics to argue that such statements are tolerated inside the party while gender-critical comments are policed.

Contradictions and cultural tensions inside the Greens

Observers point to an apparent inconsistency: some party leaders appear comfortable defending politically charged positions on international conflicts, yet are less tolerant of domestic disagreements about sex and gender. Commentators have noted the irony in policing women who insist on biological sex distinctions while allowing other controversial viewpoints to remain in the party’s orbit.

There is also a human dimension. Many people within the Greens genuinely dedicate time and energy to environmentalism and social justice. Those who find themselves at odds with the party’s current disciplinary practices say they are motivated by a desire to protect women’s spaces and legal protections, not to provoke social conflict.

How this dispute fits into a broader political pattern

The Green Party’s approach on gender isn’t happening in isolation. Over the past decade, disputes over gender-critical opinions have surfaced across British politics, with members facing sanctions in other parties as well. The debate now spans legal tests, ministerial rhetoric and public policy on medical treatment for children with gender dysphoria.

• Political parties have moved to discipline or expel members accused of transphobia, creating a climate where public disagreement can carry professional and social costs.
• Government figures have made statements interpreted by some as blurring or contesting the legal status of biological sex versus gender identity.
• Health and legal systems are under pressure to balance safeguarding vulnerable young people with concerns raised by critics about experimental treatments and long-term outcomes.

Key takeaways for voters and activists

For activists and party members, the GWD case is now both a specific legal quarrel and a symbol: it tests how far a party may go in defining acceptable speech and belief among its ranks. As the legal process unfolds, the dispute will likely shape internal party practices and contribute to wider public debate on the limits of ideological conformity in politics.

Jo Bartosch is co-author of the book Pornocracy.

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Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson is a dedicated columnist focusing on political and social debates. With twelve years in editorial writing, he provides nuanced, well‑argued perspectives. His commentaries invite you to form your own views and engage in critical issues.