A Green Party leader to 'welcome politically homeless women'

[GreenGretel]

A candidate in the Green Party election contest wants to welcome back women who have been left politically homeless by the assault on sex-based rights.

I'd urge any Green-minded people to join or re-join the party by 27th Aug in order to vote for Shahrar Ali. You can join (if only temporarily) for as little as £13 here: join.greenparty.org.uk/

Shahrar Ali stands a good chance of winning, having previously been deputy leader and gaining 24% of first-preference votes in 2020. He is speaking up unequivocally for women's sex-based rights. You can read his full statement on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/ShahrarAliGreenParty/posts/190051301345352.

He is also in the Guardian here: www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/17/green-transgender-rights-row-leadership-shahrar-ali-sian-berry

If Shahrar wins, he will be the first leader of a British political party willing to stand up to gender identity ideology.

Thanks both. I’ve just chatted it though with a friend too and she said similar things. The most important thing is, this is a chance to try to influence things. Going to sign up now.

I've just signed up. I agree with so many Green policies but have not been able to vote for them in the last few years due to what seemed to be a total capitulation to TRA bullying. I'm delighted to think that there could be a party leader who prioritises environmental issues, is pro-Europe and actually knows what a woman is!

Lizzie, I hear you. There's some people in the GP that I find shockingly unpleasant, to say the least.

I know for a fact there are also some brilliant, intelligent, brave and principled people within. I'm there to try and give them some back up, if nothing else.

And because it might be nice if the planet didn't actually burn before my kids get a chance to grow up.

And because it might be nice if the planet didn't actually burn before my kids get a chance to grow up.

Absolutely this.

Does anyone else wonder about the impact to the environment of things like puberty blockers? That shit is so dangerous hcps handling it cant concieve within a certain timeframe. Does any make its way into the waterways via urine?

I find it extremely hypocritical that the Gp women co chair works for a business that promotes this stuff.

I think about the potentially very harmful effects on human bodies, for sure. It would be interesting to see research on hormones' and blockers' effects on the environment, yes.

What often annoys me, though, is that all of the gender snash is detracting from the far more urgent issues that we ought to be attending to - environmental, yes, but also all the feminist issues that are having to be set aside while we argue that 'woman' and 'female' is actually even a thing. Because of course if sex doesn't exist, we can't name, fight and legislate against sexism.

So without the words, we can't call on the law to protect women.

I think Shahrar Ali is good and brave. Very good luck to him and all the GC greens. I'm thinking about it - but don't know if I could go there though...

I was on a FB discussion page of a prominent Green recently and the aggression, insults (and lies) from the Green TRA's WAS properly intimidating. Worse even than the Labour party (sorry)

This prominent Green bloke was saying that he thought the Greens should concentrate on the environment. The TRA's were in uproar at him because 'social justice' - they called him a transphobe and other names.
I can't say i was very sympathetic to him either.
He kept saying, 'but I voted for every single one of the Trans rights votes!'
I still feel really pissed off about it.

I imagine all those people will leave if Shahrar gets in, unless they're really genuine environmentalists.

I suppose they will - afaik they were very dedicated to environmental action but their hatred of 'terfs' was ...palpable.
Going by that debate alone, I don't think Shahrar stands a chance.

Have just signed up!

Many, if not most people are highly unlikely to get involved publically in debates on gender identity/women's rights. Who wants to call down the wrath of the TRAs or get embroiled in a pile-on on social media?

So if you're looking at social media/FB, you will not hear very much in defence of 'gender critical' views, or even women's rights.

Speaking to people outside of the screen-based social circles, though, you're highly likely to find a far greater range of views.

The proof will come at the ballot box.

To be honest I don't think he will win but I keep seeing bits of Internet with lots of people saying they have joined to vote for him so there is some hope. If he managed 24% of vote last time and now even more people realise what's going on in theory he should do better this time? Depends how many who voted previously now wouldn't too I suppose. The TRAs are very vocal and GC voices are much quieter. I reckon of the 2000 new members a lot are probably us?

Hopefully the various TWAW chanting candidates will split the tra vote.

I've joined and hope that my vote will make a difference

The Guardian's covered the election here: www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/23/green-party-steps-into-unknown-with-latest-leadership-election

They seem to think it's going to be Carla Denyer/Adrian Ramsay vs Womack/Omond and aren't expecting much from Shahrar Ali.

Does anyone know Denyer or Ramsay's position on women's rights? Or the other candidates? I'm not sure who I'd put for secondary preferences.

Ah, it seems that Carla Denyer doesn't accept that there is any conflict.
So that's answered. twitter.com/carla_denyer/status/1285568840458526720

@OldTurtleNewShell look up the anti fracking nanas. One of the Co founders is also standing.

I left Labour last year for a number of reasons, just joined The Green Party to vote for Shahrar Ali.

I just rejoined, I didn't want to but there are so many who have been fighting hard on this in GP. To say they have been risking their sanity is not an understatement. Just watched the 1st hustings. Apart from SA all candidates appear to live in a world where misogyny does not exist and transphobe roam the streets. 2,3 women are not murdered every week. I'd love to be on their planet rather than mine. Another candidate MH was good, and has a brilliant Co stander, but slipped up on 'the' question. Sadly.

Just joined. Am an environmental activist at local level but resisted joining/voting Green due to their obsession with trans ideology. But here's someone who might just pull the party out of the mire of anti-science identity rhetoric and point it back to where it should be - raising the alarm about the climate emergency.

Not for me. It's good someone is bucking the trend but

Greens have no real power..CL was their only MP? Not sure if they have any now.

Handling of challenor.

Many statements from key greens TWAW.

Doubt will get in.

Their policies around 'sex work' are abysmal. Started s thread a little while ago.

What about the sodding environment?

I've been a paid up member in the past. Labour too.

Not getting my cash. Sorry.

@Bluowl

I just rejoined, I didn't want to but there are so many who have been fighting hard on this in GP. To say they have been risking their sanity is not an understatement. Just watched the 1st hustings. Apart from SA all candidates appear to live in a world where misogyny does not exist and transphobe roam the streets. 2,3 women are not murdered every week. I'd love to be on their planet rather than mine. Another candidate MH was good, and has a brilliant Co stander, but slipped up on 'the' question. Sadly.

What did MH say about the trans issue? Did Tina Rothery have anything to say on it? What about Ashley Gunstock? I've been a GP member for a few years but didn't have time to catch the hustings. Already ruled out voting for Omond, Womack, Denyer and Ramsay. I liked the look of Rothery and was optimistic she'd also be reasonable on this issue.

nicegerbil I completely agree with everything you have just said and it makes me reluctant to join. However, getting a GC leader could change the GP. Hopefully a lot of the TWAW believers would leave and by being part of that I might be able to change the party from within. I absolutely don't think they have any chance of ever holding any real power but I think that other political parties will be watching, if they see a surge of support for GC views they may realise it's time to drop the make believe stuff. For the small cost of membership I think it's worth a try, yes they might blow it all on stuff I disagree with but, as you say, they have no power, so won't actually impact on any legislation.

@NiceGerbil "CL was their only MP? Not sure if they have any now."

Caroline Lucas is still their only MP increasing her number of votes in every election.

@RandomGreenbloke You've ruled out the right ones! They only allowed one of the two Co Leader applicants to speak at this one 😒 so TR wasn't speaking. MH was impressive and measured. Slightly acknowledged the issues not as much as I'd liked but clearly a decent bloke. Only SA addressed it head on. This is all in my view, obviously others may have different views. Those you've ruled out are the expected winners, eg one of the pairs. Would be great to have an unexpected win. Its happened before when Peter Cranie was favourite and lost to Bennett. Next hustings Thursday I think.

@Bluowl Thanks, that's interesting. I'm not so tied to this issue that I'm put off by MH sidestepping the whole mess. I am put off by anyone telling me TWAW, though, especially if they're militant about it. Omond & Womack would be a total disaster for the party, Denyer & Ramsay almost as bad. Very much hoping for an upset