Internal divisions are fracturing the Green Party, with allegations of racism and a perceived departure from core environmental values creating significant discord. The situation has escalated to the point where newly elected councillors are threatening to resign and the mother of a Green Party MP has publicly criticized the party's current trajectory.
Liz Spencer, mother of Green MP Hannah Spencer and a long-time Green Party member, stated that the party has become a "laughing stock" in local politics. She believes the party's shift away from its environmental roots has "opened the door for lots of less-than-nice people to enter." Spencer, who first joined the party when it was known as the Ecology Party, expressed concern that a growing divide within the Bolton branch, pitting traditional environmentalists against newly elected councillors, is damaging the party's reputation.
"The Green Party has a set of values; environmental stuff that leads onto social justice stuff," Spencer told the Manchester Mill, the publication that first reported her comments. "But now, we are a laughing stock in local politics." She further described an "atmosphere of paranoia" within the party where "nobody trusts anybody."
This internal conflict comes as the Green Party saw three new councillors—Baggy Khan, Zan Arif, and Ismail Ibrahim—elected to Bolton Council in recent local elections, joining existing councillor Hanif Alli. However, an internal dispute has emerged, with some party members claiming these new councillors do not align with Green values. Helena Carman, who ran for the Greens in the May local elections, has openly stated that Alli is "not Green."
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Adding to the turmoil, all four Green councillors on Bolton Council have reportedly threatened to resign amid allegations of racism from older party members. Councillor Alli claimed that a "core 'white' group" has engaged in "orchestrated abuse and press leaks" and labeled more traditional Bolton Greens as "racists." He further stated that this group, in his opinion, is "drunk on a short taste of political power" and is attempting to remove or tarnish individuals of color within the party.
A Conservative source commented on the disunity, suggesting that under the leadership of Zack Polanski, the Green Party is "turning on each other" and is not taking the country's significant issues seriously.
Darren Johnson, a former Green Party councillor who recently defected to the Labour Party, echoed these sentiments. While acknowledging the need for greater diversity within the party's membership beyond its "old hemp-wearing hippies," Johnson believes that by rebranding as a "hard-left populist party," the Greens have "lost sight of their values" and allowed "unpleasant people" with no genuine interest in the Green agenda to join.
A spokesperson for the Labour Party added that while the Greens are engaged in internal disputes, Labour is focused on delivering for the public. They characterized the infighting as a sign of a protest party struggling with the responsibilities of governance, questioning whether such a party could be trusted to manage vital local services.
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A spokesperson for the Green Party stated, "We do not comment on internal matters. We are continuing to support our councillors and members in Bolton."