The ex-Greens who hate what Polanski has done to their party

[IwantToRetire]

Nicola Watson, 78, first joined the party in 1984, and until last year, she moderated the online discussion forum of the Green Party Seniors – a “quiet little group” that discussed gardening and cookery tips alongside policy.

But amid the discussions about allotments and how to make good pasta sauce, some members strayed off message on gender issues. One was Eric Walker, a 99-year-old D-Day veteran suspended last year for claiming that some men became trans women to fare better in sporting contests. Party commissars also suspended Watson for failing to “adequately moderate” the forum.

“Eric doesn’t have a bad bone in his body; he just said stuff, which is what old people do,” Watson says. “I’ve put forum users on the naughty step if they’ve been abusive, but we saw this as a freedom of speech issue. If you don’t toe the line that trans women are women, then you’re deemed transphobic.”

Watson is now a member of Greens in Exile, a new group of more than 50 former party members who have been expelled or resigned, mostly over trans issues. “They have made enormous contributions over decades to the Green Party,” their website says. “They have delivered countless leaflets, served on national committees, and been elected as town and county councillors.”

From https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/06/eco-activists-polanski-green-party/

Can also be read at https://archive.is/JxBx4

I never joined the Green Party but have voted for them on occasion. Can I become an Ally of Greens in Exile please?

I must admit that was my first thought!

They have a web site!
https://greensinexile.org.uk/

Freedom of speech
The Green Party’s approach to ethical conduct is supposed to be guided by its philosophical basis and core values, which include a commitment to freedom of self-expression.

Open debate
No progress in a political party, or wider society, will happen without open debate. Any Green Party policies should be able to be discussed in the light of changing scientific evidence or a change in public opinion.

Good governance
The Green Party should have a democratic process for making decisions, free of abuse and corruption and in line with social conventions and the rule of law. But does it?

Science-based policy
The Green Party is supposed to prioritise a scientific approach to gathering information and building knowledge to enable the development of policies through scientifically informed debate.

Women’s sex-based rights
Sex is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act (EqA) 2010 but not in today’s Green Party where advocating for “sex-based rights” can be seen as transphobic.

Safeguarding
The Green Party like any other organisation has a duty to safeguard and protect members against issues such as abuse and bullying, as well as ensuring that any children, or at risk adults, are sufficiently protected.

Former Green voter here. Polanski is a hypocrite, although he's not unique in that. He was saying recently there needs to be freedom of speech to support Palestine, which I agree with, but he doesn't support freedom of speech for issues he disagrees with.

This seems typical for people who are generally left leaning. They have no tolerance for opinions different to theirs.

I love Caroline Lucas 😭

Did you see this yesterday on her X?! This is now what members of the Green Party are like!

The thing I really miss about the Green Party is their focus on the climate emergency. Along with a new lack of interest in science.

Hey, get with the times, they're not an environmentalist party these days.

Are the Green Women's Declaration still active?
https://www.greenwomensdeclaration.uk/

I was going to say maybe they should join the Green's in Exile, although I suppose they have taken on the tougher job of staying in the Greens and trying to counter the negation of women's sex based rights.

I agree. I hope people planning to vote for them realise that too

The Greens whom I've previously voted for are the Gaza Party and unsurprisingly have lost their scientific focus as they are now run by a religious faction.

I left a few years ago when it became clear what they thought of women like us, and it's only gotten worse since then. Free speech as long as you agree with them.

I don't get how it changed so much and so quickly
I really liked the last lady ,Carla denyer ..I wonder what she thinks of the party now with that slime ball in charge .
I used to vote green ,I'm vegan ,and in to all that green stuff ..
That party doesn't speak for me anymore

Have the policies noticeably worsened under Polanski? I've been increasingly turned off the Greens because I don't like him personally, but things like pushing trans stuff were happening anyway.

The antisemitic stuff is more recent but that just reflects trends across the whole of the left, and to be honest was probably there under the surface anyway and has just bubbled up given recent events. Polanski's complicit but the developments would probably have happened under most leaders.

They clearly think women should have about as many rights as women in Gaza too. How people can't see this is beyond me.

I live in Scotland and the actions and policies of the Green party here make me care LESS about the environment. What's the point of stopping climate change - which realistically won't have much impact on the chilly, hilly, damp country of Scotland - if the price is women's rights, mass job losses in the oil industry, accelerated depopulation of the Western Isles due to lack of reliable ferries and higher taxes for ineffective 'recycling' - code for export of plastic waste to other countries.

The north of England & Wales still suffer from the impact of mass coal mine closures. That scenario will play out in the North East of Scotland if the Green/SNP shut down of the oil & gas industry carries on.

The point of the OP is that there are different sorts of Greens.

So maybe we should talk about an alternative Green Party.

Based on this thread there are many who support "green" ie environmental issues.

Get the Green Exiles to join up with the Green Women's Declaration so there is someone to vote for.

If all that happens whether Green or Labour, just go into exile or beat their head against a brick wall in whatever party, maybe with the move to smaller parties now is the time!

And that is due in no small part to Caroline Lucas herself.

I look to a future in which Aimee Challenor being trans doesn’t matter
Caroline Lucas
30 Aug 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/30/look-future-aimee-challenor-trans-green-party-caroline-lucas

💯 and why I will no longer vote for them. The match de ride Ed Miliband does very much better on these topics, in my view.

Carla Denyer is more anti-women/pro-trans than Polanski is.

https://lgbtiqa.greenparty.org.uk/2025-hustings/pledges/international/

The Thomas guy has just been elected in Sheffield. No concerns whatsoever...

(Also worth looking at just for the pure infantilism and general ridiculousness)

Because they are in hock to a religious cult.

Typical of The Guardian to publish this trash. She has brought about the demise of the Party.