What’s going on with women & Green Party elections?

[NotDonna]

I recently joined the Green Party and their women’s branch. Voting is in progress for the next main people (I forget the titles, there’s quite a few). Today I received an email basically saying that the candidates were asked 3 questions by the women’s branch, to which replies have been received. BUT they can’t publish them as the questions needed approval. Voting ends in a couple of days. This sounds really bizarre to me. Is this ‘approval’ a way of shutting up women? Surely anything can be asked. The questions seem fine to me. And if the candidates have replied then surely it’s fine to ask questions? What’s going on here?

Here is the pertinent part of the email…
‘To this end the Green Party Women Committee posed three crucial questions to candidates (see below), many of whom replied with thoughtful and informative responses. However, we were informed that our questions needed to be approved by the Election Returning Officer (ERO) and Standing Orders Committee (SOC) and despite us initiating this process on 12th August, this approval has not yet been granted.

We very much regret therefore that we are unable to publish candidates' responses as we have not been given permission, and we would like to apologise to the candidates for this procedural failing which is out of our hands.

If GPW members have any queries as to how this has come about, please do ask the relevant bodies [email protected] and [email protected].

Our three questions were based on the main areas of concern consistently expressed by GPW members, in every forum made available to them (GPW Hustings, Spaces, Whova @ Conference & Committee Meeting open mics):

The 3 questions asked of candidates were:

1. What do you believe is the most important change needed to address violence against women and girls? And how would you action that?

1. It is increasingly acknowledged that the health concerns of women are often ignored or misunderstood. What aspect of improving women's health would you wish to promote?

1. In what specific ways do you intend to promote the needs and interests of women as a sex (as per the legally protected characteristic) within and outside the Party?’

The Green Party is a mess. I think the majority view probably leans towards the gender critical view, but there are lots of whiny TRAs and their allies and unfortunately many of them have inserted themselves into the structure of the party, so they are constantly trying to pass motions which can proscribe the holding of gender critical views, and be grounds for suspension. They really think it's justified to purge the party of all wrongthink on this issue.

Totally bizarre - those questions seem perfectly legitimate and the candidates' answers would be useful in deciding who to vote for.

Also GP member. OP, you ask if this is a way to shut women up. The answer is yes.

@Rightsraptor so what can we do about it? I’ve already voted as per the women’s branch suggestions, but this annoys the hell out of me. Don’t think the Greens are going to be for me after all. I’ve 3 daughters who are politically homeless (only one voter) and I had hoped the Greens would work. But this kind of thing surely alienates women.

For a Party to use the term Returning Officer and Standing Order committee is strange, a grandiose name indeed.
The delay and stalling could become a topic for debate in itself which slows down or delays them reaching the responses to the questions.

It is the most manipulative unprofessional process I’ve seen. They don’t even pretend to be democratic and if environmental issues and human rights (including human rights for women) weren’t so important the Green Party deserves to be treated like a bunch of irrelevant immature amateurs.

I joined as concerned about the environment but the Green Party appear to have little to no interest in environmental issues and it’s all gender ideology and erasing women

For a Party to use the term Returning Officer and Standing Order committee is strange, a grandiose name indeed.

They are hilariously pompous.

It's a mess and lunacy but there are some monitors of this forum who would delight if an "uppity GC woman" flounced from them so my approach is to stubbornly remain and vote the best I can within the bonkers structure

There are some people behind the scenes (very much out of public GC eye) working tirelessly on many things. One for example is safeguarding.

And getting more green counsellors. I know of a couple who were clueless about the trans stuff and v much about environmental issues but have had to confront this and do realise it's bonkers. But are still committed to environmental needs and trying to work within communities and reach council positions.

The Green Party is definitely divided and there are a number of activists at higher levels who do their best to block everything related to women's rights, and are, frankly, a complete pain in the arse.
That said, one of the reasons this is so very public is because there is such a very strong push back from women in the party
They're not just quietly letting it happen. If 'approval' isn't granted, it doesnt just quietly go away and no one knows the question was even asked.
I think today is the last day to vote in int internal elections. Please do.
Every person who was voted in and who doesn't 'approve' of women, can be voted out one day.
The Greens are a small party. It won't take many women working together to take it back.
All Greens: time to puuuulllll

women as a sex (as per the legally protected characteristic)

Well, that was never going to get past the misogynists running the Green Party, was it?

None of the mainstream parties, apart from Communists and Social Democrats, have the courage to defend women's rights. But the Green Party is in a league of its own for gleeful open contempt of women.

Same. I'll not leave til they kick me out.

Is this ‘approval’ a way of shutting up women?

Yes.

Noting voting closes on Wednesday, and that Shahrar Ali is standing for Deputy Leader. I think he has good support, and hope he succeeds.

I’ve already voted and have everything crossed. When are the results?

Infuriating as it is I’m hanging on in trying to work out how to vote as I know there’s many who would love women to get fed up and leave. And theres definitely a few good people I just wish I had more idea who is sane to vote for. Apart from deputy leader I don’t know

These are the recommendations from the Green Feminists group:

GPEx chair

1. Tina Rothery/Alison Teal
2. RON

Campaigns Coordinator

1. Tom Scott

Elections Coordinator

1. Chris Holt/Alan Borgars
2. Edward Milford
3. RON

External Communications Coordinator No recommendation Management Coordinator

1. Kefentse Dennis

Internal Communications Coordinator

1. Sarra Earl/Ivan Noke
2. RON

International Coordinator

1. RON

Trade Union Liaison Officer

1. Kate Souper/Sarah Bingham

Deputy leader

1. Shahrar Ali
2. RON

Sorry. Looks like the formatting went wonky when I copied and pasted. Hopefully that makes sense.

Image of recommendations to make it clearer.

The Green Party Women committee are doing a great job at trying to discuss women's issues, but everything they do is being scrutinised to the nth degree, and party officials who want them to STFU are making them jump through hoops that it would seem no other green party group has to jump through.

Since the gender ideologists flounced from the committee en masse (because they could not control the pesky adult human females), there has been a real panic at the top that it might seem that the precious non binaries are not being fully represented by the committee.

So knickers are in a twist about the committee mentioning biological sex in a question to candidates.
Keep going green party women committee - you are showing such grace under pressure x

There’s a motion being proposed for the Scottish Green’s Conference that they cut all ties with the GPEW (in a symbolic way, as they’re not really linked anyway) because of their failure to kick out all the horrible transphobes. Sadly, the SGP has done a more effective job of pushing out all the rad feminists who used to be the backbone of the SG women’s group before the debate kicked off, and have ruthlessly crushed any dissenting voices.

Thank-you TheGreatATuin much appreciated

Hey, remember when the Green Party was about saving the planet?

Green Party, your hour has come! The world is a mess of flashfloods and droughts, pandemics and war! The Government has collapsed into confusion and disarray! We need you to step forward with clear proposals to halt climate change and unite people behind them!

What’s that? You want instead to alienate most of your voters in order to placate a tiny group of lobbyists pursuing an agenda that has nothing to do with climate change and everything to do with sexual fantasies?

Huh.

The history books are not going to be kind about the Green Party generation who focused on rainbows and flags instead of the floods and fires.

As a member of the Green Party Women committee I really hope all the women on here stay in the Party. There are many of us pushing for recognition of women as a sex & despite being obstructed continually with procedural bllcks we won't give in. There are two important motions coming to conference: on not conflating s*x and gender, and on disaffiliation from Stonewall. We lose many battles, but have our eyes on the prize. Sign up to Green Feminists emails for GC news incl support on who to vote for (Deputy Leader & a number of roles on the Executive - voting closes 10pm tomorrow 31st Aug), and voting priorities @ Conference (30 Sep - 2 Oct - Harrogate & online). [email protected]

Nicely said, Apl. Talk about priorities...!

I'm hanging in there as a GP member, despite the total mysogenistic shit being heaped on any uppity woman who dares to speak out against the TRAs etc who just want to make us shut up.

Green Party Women committee have the patience of saints to put up with the endless spite aimed at them.

And the vile attacks against Sharah Ali (standing as Deputy Leader) on Social media has been unbelievable.

Join Green Feminists! If you are a GP member, use your votes!