Andrew Gilligan Times: 'Green high-flyer Aimee Challenor hid father’s rape charges' David Challenor 'A paedophile rapist posed a “major safeguarding risk” for almost two years'

[R0wantrees]

(extract)
"A paedophile rapist posed a “major safeguarding risk” to young Green Party members for almost two years because one of the party’s rising stars did not clearly tell colleagues that the man had been charged with serious sex crimes.

An independent investigation has found that Aimee Challenor, a transgender activist and candidate for the Greens’ deputy leadership, committed a “serious error of judgment” by appointing her father, David, as her agent at two elections even as he faced trial for kidnapping, raping and torturing a 10-year-old girl.

The inquiry, by the investigations consultancy Verita, criticised the Greens for treating the matter “primarily as a communications one” and “failing to see the safeguarding issues that arise”. The party’s “support for diversity” did not remove the need for someone like Aimee Challenor to have proper “training and support” in a leadership role, the investigators said.

A 17-page summary of the report was quietly published last week. However, the full 80-page report, seen by The Sunday Times, is more critical. It says Challenor, the Greens’ equality spokeswoman, had been guilty of a “serious omission” by not telling her local party and most national officials about her father’s charges.

Challenor blamed her autism for not doing so and told the inquiry: “At the end of the day you can’t go about telling every Tom, Dick and Harry.” The investigators said they found it “hard to understand some of Aimee’s actions and explanations”.

The omission allowed David Challenor to run his daughter’s office and mix with young activists and members’ children at events that included a picnic only weeks before his trial.

A jury at Warwick crown court convicted Challenor of holding his victim captive in the attic of the family home. He was jailed for 22 years for the series of offences." (continues)

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/green-high-flyer-hid-father-s-rape-charges-kdhrfhll3

current thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3474311-Veritas-report-due-tomorrow-Thursday-at-midday-re-Aimee-Challenor

Nothing is ever completely black and white I agree - AC aside, the political class mix with their own type and have a collective blinkeredness that is misogynistic in character. It's curious how they are only blind to the adverse impact on women yet promote stances that advantage men. I agree that the competence of many political types is questionable - I have long held the view that our version of democracy is long overdue for an overhaul to ensure systems thinking and tech skills are centred, in addition to people competencies.

One could also surmise it's because there are many Cluster B types in positions of power. Cluster Bs are very adept at pulling the wool over people's eyes and recruiting flying monkeys that work on their behalf, yet their self-centred actions are wholly incongruent from their words.

Add to that the lack of older practitioner women in politics and the result is a toxic short-sightedness.

Re AC - they are either being duped or doing the duping, dependent upon one's view of them. And yes competence and capacity have been highlighted in the report as problematic - but let's agree many of us here have been saying that of many for a long time.....

I am familiar with Trussell Trust and from my perspective, as someone who deals with very vulnerable people, and with a partner who does youth work with a large group of youngsters in an area with significant social issues, I can say that safeguarding is very much about a whole culture of trust. As mentioned, if it gets boiled down to tick box exercises, everyone misses the point that it's about everyone understanding that we all have a part to play in being vigilant, and we have to make wise choices based on very clear frameworks.

Yes it is political as most everything is on one level, but it's not a partisan issue. The left may well have cocked up certain elements of it, but the right has significant blind spots too, and it's only by a clear, open, non-partisan framework that we can hope to avoid the pitfalls that are inevitable if we miss it.

ICov radio (I cant find a date of broadcast but Soundcloud says a year ago?)

'Interview with Green MP Aimee Challenor and campaign manager Baloo'

discussing both Green Party and Coventry Pride
soundcloud.com/djschmiegel/interview-with-green-mp-aimee-challenor-and-campaign-manager-baloo

This is both illuminating and disturbing listening.

ht KiwiFarm thread

Very disturbing - one at how credible they sound to the uninformed - which most of the interviewers readily identify as. Second, so disingenuous - contact us, email me or tweet me - we should transparent and reachable - we’re not going to ignore people -

unless you’re a GC woman /s!!

And the way they refer to the trans day of remembrance as though it’s long established and as important as the real Remembrance Day. Also the tactic of proposing the Green candidate if elected mayor would take a lesser salary - sounded like buying votes.

The last thing was Baloo derailing by disagreeing that Aimee had risen through the ranks of the GP quickly - which they had.

What struck me was AC's entitlement - the assertion that political issues affected younger people more as they would have longer to live with them plus that because there's an A level subject of Govt. therefore that shows there's demand for lowering the voting age!!! It's also their absolute dismissal of anyone older as having any wisdom or anything to add and that younger people hold the key - right - no entitlement there at all........and women not mentioned once - 52% of the population not even referenced.....

Another disturbing interview by Aimee Challenor in light of what is known, not just about David Challenor's horrific crimes but in the context of it being made clear that Aimee Challenor does not understand or respect the Safeguarding of vulnerable people.
Aimee Challenor despite this absence of awareness / care is afforded a great deal of influence:

Transcrime:
"While David Challenor’s trial was ongoing in August 2018, Aimee Challenor was providing quotes to the media criticising feminist activists over a guerrilla campaign involving stickers saying “Women don’t have penises”.

In light of David Challenor’s appalling offences against a young girl it is extremely distressing to revisit a radio interview from February 2018 discussing Equality Act exemptions which allow Women’s Aid/Rape Crisis to exclude transgender women from working as staff e.g. in helpline/counsellor roles. In the interview, Aimee Challenor refuses to acknowledge that women and girls who are survivors of sexual and/or domestic violence need space to heal away from male-bodied and male-socialised people in women-led refuges and Rape Crisis centres. The very support needed by David Challenor’s young victim and many, many thousands of women and girls every year."

www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=J0CKLWbWTEk

transcrimeuk.com/2018/06/27/aimee-challenor/

'A VISION FOR CHANGE: Acceptance without exception for trans people'
Produced by Stonewall Trans Advisory Group
Published by Stonewall 2017

embedded quote:

‘Someone recommended I should
join a political party, so I joined the
Green Party. I got involved with the
LGBTIQA+ association in the party,
and then the Chair role came up. I
was encouraged and supported to
go for it. I’d been on the Stonewall
Youth Volunteering Programme,
so I had the knowledge of how to
campaign and get involved. And I
was elected. Following that, I was
appointed as the spokesperson
for the party’s LGBTIQ issues.
Apparently I’m the first openly
trans spokesperson of any UK
political party.’
– AIMEE CHALLENOR"

www.stonewall.org.uk/sites/default/files/stw-vision-for-change-2017.pdf

I don't think this article by Beatrix Campbell has been posted yet. She (quite correctly) doesn't hold back. She even includes a link to the kiwi farm evidence thread! And stuff about the creepy furry link.
www.byline.com/column/85/article/2394

See parallels with review of Oxfam:

Guardian 'Oxfam failed to address sexual misconduct and bullying, finds review
Independent commission says charity lacked robust safeguarding policies and was inconsistent in dealing with complaints'

"A damning interim review has highlighted Oxfam’s failure to tackle an environment at the charity that allowed sexual misconduct and bullying to go unchecked.

The report, produced by an independent commission, warned that no uniform system exists for dealing with complaints and said there are “drastic inconsistencies” in the way safeguarding issues are handled across the 90-plus countries in which Oxfam International operates.

The review added that multiple staff across different Oxfam offices believe bullying is pervasive, and highlighted concerns about a lack of confidentiality in investigation processes.

“At the heart of this issue is how power is managed and trust is earned and kept. The risks associated with reporting allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse are often high,” the report said." (continues)

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3481825-Another-report-identifies-Safeguarding-failures-Guardian-Oxfam-failed-to-address-sexual-misconduct-and-bullying

Aimee Challenor interviewed on 5Live in response to the Veritas report:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3486244-Radio-5-Live-interview-with-Aimee-Challenor?pg=3

PencilsinSpace transcript:
Transcript part 1:

[11:08]

Emma Barnett: First this morning, Aimee Challenor is a trans activist who has had to come to terms with discovering her father was responsible for some horrific sexual crimes. David Challenor was jailed for 22 years last summer for charges including sexual assault, false imprisonment and the rape of a girl aged 10. He abused his young victim in something resembling a torture den in his attic. The details of the case are too extreme for us to discuss this morning on the programme.

As David Challenor waited to go on trial Aimee was trying to get her political career off the ground. You might remember this story. She tried to become an MP and a councillor for the Green Party and on both occasions, appointed her father as her election agent even though she knew he was facing sexual offence charges. This all came out into the open after his conviction. Now, an independent report has criticised both the Green Party and Aimee and David Challenor. Aimee spoke to me a little earlier. It's her first interview about the events of the last few years.

Aimee Challenor: At a young age I had a diagnosis of autism and oppositional defiance disorder which sort of framed my childhood in a very limited, narrow way. Special educational needs schools, that sort of thing, where there was a lot of focus on autism rather than necessarily academia. I was in and out of the care system, I've been in a number of care homes in my life ...

EB: Was that from a young age?

AC: Not from a young age but social workers have been involved from a young age. I entered care at age 15 but there's been involvement from the day I was born because of past family history, before my time. I grew up in care at 15 and decided I wanted to come out when I was 16 as trans. I've spoken quite openly about that in the past, the feeling of isolation because I had - I realised I was trans at 10 and ... sort of keeping that in the closet, a secret, because you don't really realise at such a young age that trans is a thing.

EB: But you didn't feel like you were a boy?

AC: I didn't from - I had the realisation at about 10 but there were signs beforehand.

EB: And why did you, from this sort of beginning that you've described, and I know you have spoken in detail in the past about coming out as trans, but we're not really here to actually talk about that today ...

AC: No, exactly.

EB: ... let's talk about why you decided to get into politics.

AC: I came out as trans and started realising more and more issues with the world, and obviously it was the time of the coalition government, mass cuts, obviously the debate over student fees, alternative vote ... and I was thinking, I want to make a difference to my community. I had an interest in law already so I got involved in politics, originally just community activism, and someone said, why don't you think about party politics? So I looked at the manifestos. Coalition government - didn't agree with the Conservatives or the Lib Dems because of what was going on in government, didn't agree with Labour locally, and someone sent me the Green Party manifesto and I found myself agreeing with what I was reading.

EB: You end up trying to run as a councillor and also as an MP and this brings us on to appointing your father ...

AC: Yeah.

EB: ... as your agent. Just to explain, what is an election agent?

AC: An election agent is someone who takes the legal responsibility, largely, for the campaign, making sure that the leaflets are in compliance with electoral law, making sure that expenses are filed correctly, that we don't go over the spending cap.

EB: So it's a position of significant responsibility in relation to what the person ...

AC: Especially when it comes to election law.

EB: So, just to go through this in terms of the sequence of events, your father was charged towards the end of 2016 and what we're talking about, when he becomes your election agent, is about six months later, is that correct?

AC: Yeah, correct.

EB: When he was charged, how did you find out? What did you know at that time?

AC: I wasn't told a lot, I got a - upset message from my mum who was like, your dad's been arrested, there's 22 offences and they're telling me that some of them are sexual. And that's all ...

EB: Because your parents were still together?

AC: Yeah, my parents were still together. That's all I was told at that time, I wasn't living at home because I was a care leaver, I'd been supported into independent living. That's all I knew at the time, and obviously I - there were mental health checks being performed and then I'd be - all I'm told is, your dad's been put out on bail, there are reporting restrictions on the case, if anyone tries to contact you from the press about it you can't talk to them.

EB: But what were you talking about with your father?

AC: Not a lot, it was obviously highly stressful and I wasn't living at home at the time and I didn't know any of the case details, so ...

EB: But most people listening to this will think, well I'd just ring my dad and I'd ask him what he'd done, or what he'd been charged with, certainly.

AC: So I - I - as I said, my mum told me that some of the offences were ... sexual and I was - I was leaving the care system at that time, quite a - a vulnerable point in any young person's life. And there was a lot of me, because of the past several years in the care system, that wanted me to go, I need to build ... this ... relationship with my family because I've came out, I've begun my transition, you know, I need to have their support and that requires me to, if you like, support them. There's a bit of ... you think that you've got to be loyal because it's your family. And so I - I didn't really ask. I knew that the police had put him on bail, I mistakenly believed that they only bail people if they didn't believe there was any risk to other people or society. So in my mind it was a case of, well, the police are now looking into it, there's not a lot I can do as a 18 year old young woman, trying to deal with her own politics, her own transition.

EB: So when you say - I understand what you're saying there about loyalty and trying to rebuild and that particular point in your life - but how would you describe your relationship with your father at that time?

AC: I think we drifted apart a bit because of the care case. Over the next few months, between that point and the general election, there was - building of a relationship, you know, going out, getting coffee with him etcetera, visiting London. We built up our relationship, got closer over those months, and then I was at home one day with my mum and dad and I get a message from a friend, the Prime Minister's about to make a statement on TV. So I flip over to the news channel and [inaudible] I'm going to parliament for a general election. Now, as a spokesperson and - someone who is - I was trying to build my profile and the Greens' profile. I was like, I want to stand in that election and my dad's like, can I be your agent? This was several months on after charging. I hadn't heard any updates on the case, no-one had spoken to me about it. So I was like OK, yeah, it - it's not like we're going to win Coventry South. It was, it is a strong Labour area, the entirety of Coventry. We're not going to be filing many expenses, we did one leaflet round of £110 or thereabouts. So in my mind, I weighed up - there's not that much to be done in this campaign. You know, we're standing so that people have the choice to vote Green, and to ...

EB: And you were how old at this point?

AC: I was 18.

EB: And when your father asked you if he could be your election agent, did you feel pressurised by him?

AC: I guess, to an extent because - you know, like, he - he's my father and I - I'm trying to build my relationship up with him. I think if he hadn't have asked I would have gone with the generic person the Green Party set up.

EB: I suppose what I'm trying to understand is, did you feel in any way - sort of - because he was your father you had to do it? Did you feel controlled in some way?

AC: In some ways, yeah. As you say, because he was my father it - it was like I had to do it, and I guess at the time it was framed in a way that it was the logical choice.

EB: Framed by him?

AC: Yeah, definitely, and the way it was presented to me, it was like - we're literally in the same - family, you know, it's easier enough for him to run my campaign than if I'm just meeting an agent once a week over coffee.

EB: Did he - did he say to you though Aimee, that remember, I have been charged?

AC: No ...

EB: He didn't bring that up as a potential problem?

AC: ... and obviously, at this time, I'd told the Green Party, which no doubt we'll come onto, but no-one around me in the party, when I was like, 'ooh my dad's my election agent,' was like, 'Aimee, hang on a second.'

EB: Didn't the charges against your father, even if you didn't at this point know all the detail, didn't that make you want to distance yourself from them?

AC: I wasn't - I wasn't told the full nature of the charges.

EB: But even if you were aware, just as you said, that some of them were sexual - your mother had told you at least that - you know, was there no alarm bells ringing from your perspective of, I'm trying to get into public life, I'll be at, if I may say, a very young age - but I recognise what you're saying about the realistic proposition of winning the seat - were there no alarm bells ringing?

AC: When I was first told, there would have been some alarm bells, yeah, but ... likewise, I was told that the police have released him on bail, and continued to release him on bail, which I think skewed my perception a bit. And obviously there's the familial skew of, it's my family, I have to stand by my family.

EB: Did it not maybe then, the other way of looking at this, at any point because your father had been charged, did it not make you think, I might want to put my political hopes on hold until this is over?

AC: No, that part comes down to - I'm - I'm not my father and it's not up to him to live my life, and it's not up to me to put my ambitions or my decisions on hold because of something that he's done.

EB: Of course, but by making him part of your political campaign you did link yourself to him, and very strongly.

AC: And that is a mistake which I regret and I've apologised for, because it was the wrong decision.

EB: So do - I mean - who do you blame for that decision, because it sounds like you were coming under quite a lot of pressure?

AC: I was coming under pressure but ultimately I appointed him. Some people have said that I've employed him or I've - and it's not an employed role. I wish that there had been more oversight from the Green Party. I wish that there'd been more, in terms of support and training ...

EB: I mean, other people ...

AC: ... as a candidate I had to reveal any disclosures I had to the party. We didn't require that of election agents. There was not - at this time the Green Party didn't have a formal, complete safeguarding policy or procedure. (continues)

PencilsinSpace Transcript part 2:

EB: Do you feel the Green Party failed you in a duty of care and safeguarding, to check whether it was right for you at the age of 18 to be running, and also who was around you, influencing you at that time, especially considering, as you've described, some of your background?

AC: To an extent. I think there definitely could have been a lot more support and training because even aside from being a political candidate in an election, I was a spokesperson, so dealing with external communications for the party. I think there definitely could have been a lot more training and support for all spokespeople, it was a common issue. Not, obviously, safeguarding necessarily but the lack of training and support, which for the Green Party was difficult because it's - they have a small staff team but it's something difficult that they should have tackled, rather than going, it's difficult, we can't do it at the moment.

EB: You don't win the seat, as we know, and then there's the trial of your father. How much later was that?

AC: That was over a year later, it was summer 2018.

EB: Is it right in saying that you appointed him twice as an election agent?

AC: Yeah, I appointed him in the 2017 general election ...

EB: And then ...

AC: ... and then the 2018 local council election.

EB: Which your mother also stood for ...

AC: Yes.

EB: With him as ...

AC: So both me and my mother were what's called paper candidates. So we're a name on the ballot but we do no campaigning. It's again to provide an option to vote Green.

EB: I think, just to break in at this point if I may, people may be surprised that - you know, you AND your mother are thinking of standing for office in the middle of what was going on with the trial approaching.

AC: My focus was improving the lives of people in Coventry, improving the city. Obviously, late 2017 we had the amazing news of City of Culture, so it was a great time to take a stand and represent people in Coventry.

EB: And your mother?

AC: I can't speak for my mother.

EB: It just seems a bit odd that there's this man in the middle of this who's both of your election agents and you're both running like this, and it sort of begs the question about his level of control at this time.

AC: I can't speak for my mother but we were both paper candidates, we did no campaigning in the area for example.

EB: But did he suggest that you should run for those seats as ...

AC: I wanted to stand for local election. Members of Coventry Green Party besides my father, but also my father, suggested that my mother would stand in as a paper candidate to get the full slate across the city. Obviously my father had some role in that, not all of the role but he did have some role in that. As I say, I can't speak on behalf of my mother, I can speak ...

EB: Can you see why it might seem a bit odd?

AC: To some people I could, yeah. My focus at the time was, you know, making a positive message in the city.

EB: When did the trial happen then? That was ...

AC: That was August.

EB: That was August, OK. And when that began, could you describe, as you started to, is that when you did start to learn the full nature ...?

AC: So I learnt a little bit of detail in July when I was asked to produce a statement for court and to prepare to be a witness. But then obviously at that point I'm a witness for court so they don't want to tell me too much because it might skew what evidence I give. And then I'm on the stand in the courtroom and the prosecution barrister for the CPS presents these details to me and I'm shocked ... heartbroken in a way because this is my father. And ... I - I give my statement for court and, sort of, the judge orders a recess and I sort of slump out of the court and I go off and I cry to ... my mum and I get - how can this ... be? I don't go back to court to watch the rest of the trial, I stay at home.

Then 22nd of August, mum's in court with my dad and ... I'm not hearing much because obviously, court room, you're not on your phone, and a message comes through from a family friend and it just goes, Aimee, I'm so sorry. And at that point obviously I know that he's - he's gone down. And then ... my mum calls me and tells me he's gone down for 22 years - 21 years. And ... I phone up the Green Party press office on - emergency on-call team and I'm like, right, this is what's happened, tell - tell them about, you know, he's been my election agent, the fact that I gave evidence to the court. And they go, all right, I'll call you back tomorrow, type thing.

I then - my priority is then my mother because my dad was my mother's main carer because she was - had a number of disabilities so I had to spend a couple of days trying to get care in place for her. I then go up to spend time with family [inaudible] in Aberdeen and ... that's when it hit the press. I had to turn my phone off because I was just getting hounded with calls from not just reporters but people I didn't know and I - I called the press team and you know, like, this is - this is getting bad, they've just tried to doorstep my mum.

And ... so we put out a - a statement. We had to put out a number of statements in that week because ... originally I was - there was an emergency statement of, we're aware of it, and, you know, Aimee's producing a statement and we've suspended David Challenor's membership. Obviously I didn't - I was standing for deputy leader of the Green Party at the time. I didn't want that ... election, that conversation of the future of the Green Party to be dominated by the atrocities that my father had committed. So I stepped aside from that election which ... upset some people around me because obviously, here's this man who's done atrocious things to a young - young ch- woman - a child. And ... then they sort of go, he's still, even though he's been sent to prison, then having an effect on the women around him because it's affecting, you know, my mother, his wife's care and whether - we weren't sure at that point whether she'd be able to stay at home. It's affecting obviously me and politics and has until last month.

EB: Because you're no longer a member of the Green Party ...

AC: yeah.

EB: ... we'll come onto where you're up to in just a moment, but how were you feeling at this point?

AC: I - I had to take a long time off from anything. I went up to Aberdeen and I sort of crashed because ... it was - it was heartbreaking you know, this ... individual, my father, had done such monstrosities and then obviously the sort of feeling of people left, right, centre, all going - all going, Aimee needs to say this, Aimee needs to say that, and I'm like, I just want to hide my head under a pillow and scream. It was an absolutely devastating time for me, and obviously then my family.

EB: And did you talk to him after the trial?

AC: I didn't, he was sent straight down then.

EB: But did he make a phone call to you?

AC: He couldn't that day.

EB: But since, have you ...

AC: I've spoken to him since.

EB: What was the first conversation like, because if as you say, you hadn't known the nature fully until everything came out in court, what was that first conversation like?

AC: Very ... hard. He was ... put on medi- quite strong medication when he was sent down so he - he wasn't, I don't think, quite with it during our first phone call. It was quite a short one because obviously they had to process us to go through to have longer phone calls with prisoners.

EB: Have you - have you shouted at him? Have you been annoyed with him?

AC: I've cried to him. I wouldn't really say I've shouted at him. I've told him that I'm angry.

EB: And what has he said to you?

AC: He's all - he's constantly saying sorry, sorry, but ... I - I'm still in a place where I'm battling my own internal conflict because there's part of me that's like, he's my dad, you know, I've got to allow him to say sorry, but he has destroyed ... this child's life, he's taken a sledgehammer to things that I've worked hard for and obviously it's deeply destroyed my mum.

EB: Do you have a relationship with him now?

AC: Not a close one, no. Last time I spoke to him, which was just after new year, it was to let me know that he'd been moved to a different prison and that he was calling me because he couldn't get through to my mum. I've not gone to visit him yet because I don't think that I could handle that emotionally and I'm not in a place to - where I could go in there and control my emotions, and not scream at him.

EB: Do you think you will visit him?

AC: I don't know. I just genuinely don't know.

EB: I suppose the other question at this point then is, you say it's like he took a sledgehammer to what you'd worked for, do you feel like you are able to come out yet of the shadows that he has cast over your life because of that connection with your political work?

AC: Slowly ...

EB: Because I know this is the first time ...

AC: ... yeah.

EB: ... that you've - you've spoken today.

AC: So it's the first time I've spoken on this but since then I have spoken on trans related issues.

EB: Yeah, sorry, I meant about what has happened.

AC: I - I have now joined the Liberal Democrats but ... I'll be continuing to speak out because it's the right thing to do, to continue to speak out when I see injustice and to campaign for what's right. I did a lot of amazing things as a Green spokesperson, I've experienced things that I'll never forget - debating at the Oxford Union or, you know, even simple things like changing TfL policy. So I don't think that ... his shadow will cast over me for a while. I've agreed with the Liberal Democrats that I'm not going to stand for councillor or MP for two years at least. That gives me time to ... heal after ... the pain that he's caused, it gives me time to have training, support, mentorship. That ... is desperately welcomed because it was missing in the Green Party.

EB: And perhaps get some other experiences ...

AC: Exactly, you know, it gives me ...

EB: ... as I say, I don't mean this in a patronising way but I'm remembering how I was when I was your age, I studied politics, I was very interested in politics, but I don't think I was at all ready to go through running for office or some of those things. That's not to say we're the same in any way but - and you've got a lot of issues that you feel very passionately about ...

AC: Yes.

EB: ... that you want to contribute on, but it probably would be a good thing, isn't it, to get that training that you're talking about.

AC: It's going to be really great to get that training and ...

EB: And I presume you're not going to work with your family again on politics?

AC: No, god no. God no.

EB: Well I think ...

AC: I think I'll be working with professional teams from the Liberal Democrats if I stand again, obviously if there's going to be a lot of training and support. I have a partner in Michigan in the United States and you know, we're now looking actually, now I'm not so engrossed by British politics, actually is this a time - is this a good time for us to consider our future and the fact that we're currently, you know, several thousand miles apart - is this the time to start looking at closing that distance?

EB: So maybe a bit more on your personal life as well. Aimee, I really do appreciate you taking the time ...

AC: Thank you.

EB: ... to talk to me and to all of us this morning. Thank you.

AC: I just want to finish quickly ...

EB: Please ...

AC: ... by highlighting the fact that I have learnt from my mistakes, from this report and from my experience. Ultimately there's been a lot of tit-for-tat in regards to party politics or trans equality by commenters on this. We shouldn't forget that at the bottom of this there is a little girl who was ... absolutely hurt and whose life will ... always be affected by this and my thoughts continue to be with her throughout what must have been a very traumatic past few months for her as this was splashed all over the press.

EB: Aimee, thank you.

AC: Thank you.

[40:39]

I'm battling my own internal conflict because there's part of me that's like, he's my dad, you know, I've got to allow him to say sorry, but he has destroyed ... this child's life, he's taken a sledgehammer to things that I've worked hard for and obviously it's deeply destroyed my mum.

there is a little girl who was ... absolutely hurt and whose life will ... always be affected by this and my thoughts continue to be with her throughout what must have been a very traumatic past few months for her as this was splashed all over the press.

Can't really fault those two statements even if I can't stand AC

They look good in writing anyway

Its telling that AC locates the trauma for the young girl in 'the past few months' & because this is when 'its been splashed all over the press'.

The trauma for the child victim of David Challenor started when he violently assaulted her, the period when she was no doubt frightened into not disclosing his abuse, the long period waiting for trial, the trial itself and the effects of this will be long lasting.

Aimee Challenor's focus on this time is likely more a projection of the impact on her and her family.

All family members will of course experience conflict when someone they love is revealed to have committed horrific crimes. They are also victims.

I just want to finish quickly ... by highlighting the fact that I have learnt from my mistakes, from this report and from my experience. Ultimately there's been a lot of tit-for-tat in regards to party politics or trans equality by commenters on this

Aimee Challenor has not demonstrated an understanding of the nature of the very serious Safeguarding failings, their cause or the implications.

To reduce those who have recognised the issues and commented as being 'tit for tat' party politics /trans equality issues further emphasises this.

Aimee Challenor identifies in the interview what she thinks are her 'mistakes' and also who is to blame this too is telling.

I acknowledge that AC is also somewhat a victim in this case, but as they continue to be granted a platform the voice of the raped and tortured child seems lost. Surely we should hear from advocacy groups as well for balanced reporting? To inform the public of the lifelong effects of being subject to this sort of a crime?

I see parallels with the MAGA capped Catholic kids in America being the ones to get to publicly put their story across when there were also other groups present.

Surely we should hear from advocacy groups as well for balanced reporting?

No, the muted must stay silent.

The trauma for the child victim of David Challenor started when he violently assaulted her, the period when she was no doubt frightened into not disclosing his abuse, the long period waiting for trial, the trial itself and the effects of this will be long lasting.

Yes, and during all of this, Aimee was giving loud, proud, public validation of David Challenor's honourability and trustworthiness as Aimee's election agent, advisor, even Aimee's representative (and photographer!) at times.

Aimee opened doors for David Challenor to be influential in policies impacting women, children, and anyone who dares ask questions about Aimee and David's behaviour, political and personal. Adult politicians were scared of speaking up with the Green Party fgs.

Aimee says they weren't aware of the exact charges. I don't believe that. But even if it were true, Aimee admits they knew there were a large number of charges against DC which involved sexual abuse. So Aimee did know there was someone, or someone's, out there who was claiming to be assaulted and that the police had decided there was a case to answer. Aimee knew this while they were helping build David's status and reputation, which would be harder for his victim to speak against. Aimee stood for political positions with David Challenor right next to him, for all we know that child could live in the same area that Aimee was aiming to represent, always with David right there.

This interview is just more bullshit from someone who has been shown to be totally dishonest. Aimee does not appear to have any empathy, or any accountability.

Here are some words I think many of us connect with Aimee privately but have been intimidated out of speaking publicly:
Male
Fetishist
Co-conspirator
Enabler
Liar
Delusional
Dangerous
Horrific
Creepy
Sinister

We are allowed to look at what Aimee says and does and draw these words from it. Aimee Challenor is a political figure and we are allowed to speak these concerns our loud. We shouldnt even be calling them "Aimee" like they are some girl next door. That's not how we usually refer to political figures.

Challenor is not the victim of this, they are not the innocent baby they are trying to portray themselves as. Ffs Challenor is a person who has left public info all over the net about their adult baby nappy wearing and furry fetishes. Join the fucking dots 5Live! Have some respect for your listeners.

Challenor sheltered a rapist as their election agent, advisor and representative. Challenor stood by (at best) as their mother stood for local election while facebooking abusive rants about her husband's victim. Challenor repeatedly pushes policies which disregard safeguarding, and abuses or silences people who try to speak about the negative impact of those policies. Challenor tried to silence fifty thousand critical voices by promoting, using and even actively building twitter blocklists.

This is not an innocent - Challenor is a dangerous person who gets sexual kicks out of duping people into treating them like a vulnerable baby. Ffs!

I don't acknowledge Aimee as a victim of this at all. I think that the fact that we're being required to do so before discussing the ways in which Aimee facilitated David's access to various spaces and events is a demonstration of gaslighting in action.

I agree. Challoner is a dangerous manipulator. Whether they would have turned out differently with a different upbringing is moot.

Absent a time machine there's no way to know, and also no way to make them into something other than their current dangerous manipulator self.

I feel like women's socialization and tendency to want to care for vulnerable young women is being weaponised against us by multiple political parties via Challenor, Madigan, etc.

I seriously cannot believe for a second AC did not know more details of the crimes.

AC is protecting their own reputation, creating a facade of a innocent helpless baby (which to this person is a turn on) and the whole thing reeks of dodge.

This person has had influence over Girl Guiding trans policy for god sake and we all know what a huge safeguarding risk / loophole for abusers that all is.

I did a lot of amazing things as a Green spokesperson, I've experienced things that I'll never forget - debating at the Oxford Union or, you know, even simple things like changing TfL policy. So I don't think that ... his shadow will cast over me for a while.

The 'amazing' 'simple' thing that Aimee Challenor did as Green spokesperson with regards TfL:

09/12/2016 HuffPost article by Sara C Nelson
'Sadiq Khan Could Bring In 'Gender Neutral' TfL Announcements After Staff Mock Trans Woman
'No person - trans or cis - should have face the humiliation and shock that I did.'
(extract)
"London Mayor Sadiq Khan has revealed Transport for London (TfL) looks set to scrap the “ladies and gentlemen” Tube and bus announcements after a transgender woman was ridiculed by staff.

Aimee Challenor was left shocked after she was told she “didn’t sound like a Miss” during a telephone call to TfL’s Oyster helpline.

The 19-year-old’s experience was put to Khan by Green Party GLA member Sian Berry at Mayor’s Question Time last month.

Khan apologised “unreservedly” for the remark and replied: “TfL’s approach is centred on treating everyone equally, while understanding the specific needs of different customers.

“Under this approach it does not offer trans-specific training, but rather ensures that all staff put equality and fairness first.

“I have asked for a review of training and procedures to ensure that TfL is always providing a professional, respectful service that is inclusive and sensitive to the needs of all Londoners."

Challenor, who is a spokesperson for the Green Party, told Huffington Post UK: “I’m pleased to see TfL moving to make announcements across their network more inclusive.

“There is still work to be done, it is important that customer facing staff, both face-to-face and on the phone, receive trans-awareness training. London is a massively diverse city, and this is something we should be immensely proud of.

“A small step to include all Londoners and visitors regardless of their gender is welcome. No person - trans or cis - should have face the humiliation and shock that I did.

“I look forward to continuing to work with Sian Berry to ensure that the Mayor and TfL honour their commitments. In the Green Party we are clear; Trans men are men, trans women are women, and non-binary identities are real and valid.” (continues)

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sadiq-khan-could-scrap-ladies-and-gentlemen-bus-and-tube-announcements-after-transgender-woman-mocked-by-tfl-staff_uk_584a98a8e4b040989fa6ac91

05/07/2017 Huffpost article By Sara C Nelson :
'Green Party Activist Slams TfL As Gender-Specific Announcements Remain Ahead Of London Pride'
'We deserve better than empty promises from Sadiq Khan and TfL.'

'A Green Party activist has expressed disappointment that Transport for London (TfL) continues to use gendered language.

It comes six months after Sadiq Khan revealed the “ladies and gentlemen” Tube and bus announcements could be scrapped after a transgender woman was ridiculed by staff.

Aimee Challenor, who is Equalities Spokesperson for the Green Party, was left humiliated after she was told she “didn’t sound like a Miss” during a telephone call to TfL’s Oyster helpline.

The 19-year-old’s experience was put to the London Mayor by Green Party GLA member Sian Berry, prompting Khan to apologise “unreservedly” for the remark and to issue a pledge on implementing gender-neutral announcements across its network.

But Challenor complains examples of gender-specific language across TfL, including recorded announcements, remain.

She also claims a TfL staff member who requested anonymity supplied her with a screenshot of the TfL “rule book” which states: “When using the Public Address (PA) system, you must start all service information announcements with ‘Ladies and gentlemen’, except for routine announcements such as ‘mind the gap’ and ‘stand clear of the doors.’”

Challenor blogged: “Let me be clear, trans and non-binary travellers deserve better than empty promises from Sadiq Khan and Transport for London. On Saturday, the Mayor will be celebrating LGBT and diversity at Pride in London, perhaps he could put actions behind his words, stop showboating and letting down diverse London and visitors.”

Last month Berry asked the Mayor once more about the matter, with Khan replying that he had briefed staff on the changes and was working with a specialist gender diversity charity that had created training workshops for all TfL contact centre managers" (continues)

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lgbt-disappointment-as-gender-specific-tfl-announcements-remain-ahead-of-pride_uk_595cf7cde4b02734df352e63

12 July 2017 Evening Standard article by FRANCESCA GILLETT

'Transport for London scraps 'ladies and gentlemen' from Tube tannoy announcements in gender-neutral move
'The term 'ladies and gentlemen' is polite but really belongs to yesterday', say campaigners'

www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/transport-for-london-scraps-ladies-and-gentlemen-from-tannoy-announcements-in-genderneutral-move-a3586336.html

Whilst it is impossible to know the full details of the telephone call, I think the majority of people can understand how an operator might think that Challenor 'does not sound like a Miss'. Just as if I was speaking on the phone and said my name was Mr R0wan Trees, it would be understandable that an operator might observe that I don't sound like a Mr.

To have changed TfL announcements and secured such a public apology from the Mayor of London on the basis of this response on a telephone call seems quite extraordinary.

Saying 'You don't sound like a Miss' is not ridiculing. It is a statement of fact.

People are so afraid of being called a transphobic bigot that all a trans person has to do is say jump and organisations are falling over themselves to ask how high. The likes of Challenor are getting positively giddy with the power they have been given.

People are so afraid of being called a transphobic bigot that all a trans person has to do is say jump and organisations are falling over themselves to ask how high. The likes of Challenor are getting positively giddy with the power they have been given.

There is a current narrative that there is rising level of transphobia in UK as a consequence of 'transphobic hot beds' such as Mumsnet etc & Conservatve Govt not implementing self-id GRA
The police data of reported transphobic 'hate crimes' will be used to validate this.

Times article by Elizabeth Burden January 24 2019
'Principal backs transgender students over ‘hurtful’ stickers'
(extract)
She claimed that transgender activists encouraged people to report individual stickers as hate crimes to maximise the number of alleged offences. On Facebook last November, James Morton, the Scottish Trans Alliance (STA) manager, responding to a comment on the Edinburgh stickers, said: “Please log it by reporting on the Police Scotland online hate crime form. We need the stats.” Vic Valentine, a policy officer for STA, said: “If people feel distressed by transphobic stickers, we encourage them to report [it] to police. We want to improve trans people’s confidence in approaching the police.”

Kai O’Doherty, the Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s vice-president for welfare, said the stickers were “not only hurtful to trans people, but are clear violations of policies against harassment and discrimination”. (continues)

[[www.thetimes.co.uk/article/principal-backs-transgender-students-over-hurtful-stickers-9jpztg2tz?shareToken=d88353c4898053a91393d93358861e98]

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3488212-The-Times-Edinburgh-Uni-principle-to-discipline-transphobic-stickerwoman

see also current thread: Harry the owl visited by police

OP Imnobody4 wrote
"This whole hate speech/incident law is completely out of control. This is sinister.
Check out @HarryTheOwl’s Tweet: twitter.com/HarryTheOwl/status/1088144870991114241?s=09

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3487853-Harry-the-owl-visited-by-police

current thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3488261-The-Financial-Juggernaut-that-is-Stonewall

" At a young age I had a diagnosis of autism and oppositional defiance disorder" - AC

this whole page is worth a read:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppositional_defiant_disorder

Aimee has issues, lots of them.

I blame the Greens more, and all other organisations who promoted her. She does not seem fit to hold any role or office, or to influence any policy.

Instead of trying to rehabilitate her image the BBC should investigate further about her, and about this whole sorry mess, which policies have been influenced and how it was able to occur.