Green Party statement

[hackmum]

Currently the first post on Jonathan Bartleby's Facebook page is a statement from the Green Party leadership about its commitment to equality and in particular trans rights: "We have been very disturbed to see the rise in all of these, transphobia in particular, in recent years and months across the press and social media."

Strangely, there is no mention of the David Challenor case, or the Verita report, or the shameful way Andy Healey was treated when he tried to raise safeguarding concerns about Coventry Green Party. It appears they intend to merrily go on their way pretending it never happened.

A few people have taken them to task in the comments. Worth a read. Comments are open:

www.facebook.com/jonathan.bartley

[R0wantrees]

Why is it that so many idiots keep mentioning this enormous rise in transphobia, but can’t manage to work out that there may be a valid reason so many intelligent and educated women have suddenly (in their eyes) become wholly unreasonable?

It would be interesting to know the role that Stonewall, Mermaids & other trans organisations have played in educating people as to what is 'hate crime', transphobia etc and enouragement to report.

What is the basis for the belief that transphobia is on the increase?
Awareness of the safeguarding issues of holding violent, predatory males in female estate prisons? Female sporting icons challenging the fairness of males competing in women's & girls sports? Women identifying the innacuracy of NHSs 'single sex accommodation' policies? Women standing up for Safeguarding & Women's rights?

[SlipperyLizard]

Hope this is ok to post, for those not on FB:

Dear Green Party members from your leadership team,

Although February’s LGBT History Month has ended, it is clear that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are sadly very much not history in our country. We have been very disturbed to see the rise in all of these, transphobia in particular, in recent years and months across the press and social media.

We have seen first hand the real upset and damage being caused to trans and non-binary Green Party members on occasions when the rising tide of transphobia in the media and among some groups of activists has spilled into party forums. We have also witnessed hurt caused when people who have had the best intentions and asked genuine questions have received a hostile backlash.

This week we have reviewed the report that the Green Party Executive commissioned after Conference in Bristol - where activists staged protests outside accompanied with anti-trans materials - and we take very seriously the recommendations this report contains for Conference to be a space in which all our members feel safe and respected, and for more training among staff and volunteers to make sure that happens in future.

As Sian and Jonathan raised in their speech at that conference, and as your leadership team together, we want to improve how we relate to one another in the party, particularly around issues of disagreement.

We are proud of our policies on free speech, on peacebuilding, conflict resolution and restorative justice, and on building solidarity and common ground between groups affected by different issues and problems. These values make us unique.

We believe in our policy supporting trans and non-binary rights. We are feminists who support every person’s right to live as who they are with acceptance and support and without abuse, threats or having their identity denigrated or questioned.

We know how difficult some issues can be, and that we must all be part of listening to one another to make our values real. We recognise that sometimes we all may speak with pure and good intentions and still not get everything right, and so we must all try to understand and listen when people are on a journey.

Below we have copied parts of our party’s code of conduct that we are urging all members to remember when speaking with each other in any forum and recommit to. Green politics is about respect and love for all, and we need to make sure we embody our values in how we act towards each other. Intolerance and hate of all kinds is our common enemy right now, against which we should all be fighting together.

With all good wishes,

Sian, Jonathan and Amelia

P.S. These are the extracts we mention above from our code of conduct for all members:

4.1 In all their interactions with colleagues, assume the best of them.

4.9 Be inviting and inclusive to ensure all members feel confident to join and get involved. Strive to accommodate the differing needs of members and devise ways to welcome diversity.

4.11 Communicate sensitively and courteously at all times with other members, whether face-to-face, by phone, by email, letter or in social media.

4.13 Refrain from criticising other Party members publicly, including any situations where non-members may be present. If criticism is felt to be necessary, it should be done sensitively and constructively by those given that responsibility. Criticism should be of actions and behaviour or statements etc., not of the person. Avoid labels, name calling and stigmatising a person.

[DodoPatrol]

Strive to accommodate the differing needs of members

Including women who need single-sex facilities?

I think their urge to 'assume the best' is what's led them into a safeguarding pitfall.

[newtlover]

4.1 is the killer- in your interactions with colleagues, assume the best

this is exactly the problem and shows how little they understand safeguarding-
oh no, not X, he's fine, no worries there, salt of the earth, lots of good work for charity/the party etc etc

[theOtherPamAyres]

This week we have reviewed the report that the Green Party Executive commissioned after Conference in Bristol - where activists staged protests outside accompanied with anti-trans materials

They are referring to the four women handing out Fairplay for Women leaflets in advance of the review of the GRA.

There was no protest. The materials weren't anti-trans - they were explaining the impact of self i/d on women.

You lie, GreenParty. You lie.

[R0wantrees]

4.1 In all their interactions with colleagues, assume the best of them.

All colleagues?

Or are some colleagues more deserving of this accord than others?

As TheOtherPamAyres explains above, the women at the Green Party Conference were handing out information which was pro-Safeguarding & pro Women's Rights...

[TurboTeddy]

m.facebook.com/GreenAmeliaWomack/photos/a.722531167832978/2078866535532761/?type=3&source=48&tn=EH-R

I'll just leave this here!

[MsTiggywinkletoyou]

the report that the Green Party Executive commissioned after Conference in Bristol
Is this available to read?

[Mner2019]

I left the Green Party last year after all Challenor debacle (and a few other issues locally). I used to do quite a bit for them - taking minutes, leafleting, helping to organise the election candidates etc. I can’t see any reason to go back when they are publishing this nonsense...

They are their own undoing.

[Lamaha]

Damn! It really is deleted. The comments were getting really good; reasonable points being made without anger, questions that seem so obvious to anyone of sane mind.
A few other posters were anxious for certain comments to be deleted though and I guess this was the easiest way.
Still, it shows there is a pushback in the party which they will ignore to their peril. Women are a force to be reckoned with, but it's always dispointing to see women supporting self ID.

[EverardDigby]

It appears to have been set to friends only. Shame, it was quite enjoyable demolishing some of the nonsense with calm reasoning and research.

[Mner2019]

Andy Healey has been suspended for two years for his tweet.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

It appears to have been set to friends only

Must allow comments from outside the bubble...

[theOtherPamAyres]

There was no protest. The materials weren't anti-trans - they were explaining the impact of self i/d on women. You lie, GreenParty. You lie

The Green Party's lies had consequences at the time. They called the police to remove the women handing out leaflets. Goodness knows what exaggerations and lies were said about the Fairplay volunteers, but it resulted in five police officers and a police horse attending to quell the so-called anti-trans protest.

The police weren't best pleased at being diverted from other operations in the city (an important football match, a couple of festivals etc) and could not see a problem with some very polite women giving leaflets out to those who would take them. It's what happens at party conferences.

In fact, the police horse left a steaming pile near the conference walkway. 'Horseshit for talking horse shit' was the police horse's verdict.

[GCAcademic]

Interesting Tweet here from a journo attending the Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry. Seems like the Challoners are not an isolated phenomenon in the Green Party, or the first to have had a blind eye turned on them by the Party:

mobile.twitter.com/MarkWatts_1/status/1106322088909066240

But, of course, it's those who believe in biological facts who get suspended.

[GCAcademic]

This is the email that was referred to in the inquiry last week.

No statement made about this, as far as I can see. Instead the instinct of the leadership is to brush this under the carpet and double down on its anti-women rhetoric.

[GCAcademic]

Another illuminating Tweet made by a Green Party candidate during the Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry - apparently being concerned about child abuse is "a bit Tommy Robinson".

[Bluestitch]

Andy Healey has been suspended for two years for his tweet.

I've just seen this, their treatment of him has been outrageous. Here is the link where he talks about what has happened.

mobile.twitter.com/djandyhealey/status/1107717174251139080

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

Are they trying to self compost or something? What next - advocate fox hunting and nuclear power?

[NeurotrashWarrior]

There appears to have been a number of twitter suspensions overnight.

[NeurotrashWarrior]

Sorry, crossed wires.

[HotpotLawyer]

Did the Greens ever make a statement / response to the Veritas report?

[hawayman]

I was surprised to hear that Andy was still in the Green Party. They've treated him appallingly. Why does he stay?

[Ereshkigal]

Another illuminating Tweet made by a Green Party candidate during the Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry - apparently being concerned about child abuse is "a bit Tommy Robinson".

Wow.

[Popchyk]

He's been suspended for two years for wrongly stating that two graphics in a Tweet had been created by Baloo Challenor. He was mistaken. Only one of them was.

For that he gets a suspension of two years.

And he was only flagged up as a complaint as a direct link of another witchunt against another Green Party member, who liked his tweet. This is of course heresy in the Greens.

The Greens are stating that, after the whole debacle about AC/DC being untouchable in the Greens because of their claimed transgender status, transgender status makes you untouchable in the Greens and that they will expel/suspend non-believers so that your feelings are not hurt. The Greens clearly already have Challenor Mark 2 in the ranks.

If you add it to the Child Sexual Abuse enquiry last week that referenced a high ranking Green accused of relationships with children, then I can only conclude that there is a sinister streak in the Greens that goes all the way to the top.

This high-ranking Green was not suspended by the way, despite the Green Party knowing about it for 4 years.

But Andy Healey? Suspended by the Greens, pursued by the Challenors through the civil court (with support from senior Greens), and then suspended by the Greens again.

I mean, the Greens can swing into action very swiftly when it really matters to them, can't they?