The Green Party is facing legal action from its own members following the election of a transgender woman to a council position designated for women. Eleanora Folan, who identifies as a communist and "anti-Zionist," won a vote last month to represent the Eastern Region on the party's council.
Folan, who has previously been associated with an X account that reportedly downplayed the actions of Iran's regime, is set to contribute to the party's culture and wellbeing, as well as policy and strategy. The legal challenge stems from gender-critical members who contend that Folan's appointment conflicts with last year's Supreme Court ruling. The ruling stated that within the context of the Equality Act 2010, the term "woman" refers exclusively to biological women. The ruling also clarified that this does not negate protections against discrimination for transgender individuals, which are covered elsewhere in the law.
Gender-critical members have expressed significant concern, viewing this appointment as indicative of a broader issue within the party. The Greens, under the leadership of Zack Polanski, are reportedly already involved in separate legal proceedings concerning their policies on sex and gender. The Good Law Project has announced its intention to defend the party in these matters.
Jude English, director of Green Women's Declaration and co-chair of Green Party Women, stated that the law regarding the meaning of sex is clear following the Supreme Court's judgment. English asserted that the Green Party has not made a substantial effort to revise its rules or practices and continues to operate as if no change has occurred. "This is not an isolated concern," English said. "The party is currently facing several court cases because it has repeatedly broken equality law. The leadership cannot simply ignore the law because it disagrees with it, and it cannot claim women's rights are being protected while allowing a women's position to be filled in this way."
English further commented that the party has been repeatedly warned about these issues, describing Folan's appointment as a particularly evident example of why women within the Green Party have lost faith in its commitment to protecting their rights. Lesbian Greens, another group aligned with gender-critical views, indicated that Folan's appointment symbolizes changes within the Green Party and noted the support from Greens For Palestine.
Reports from last month revealed Folan as the individual behind 'Stats for Lefties,' an X account with nearly 100,000 followers. On this account, Folan reportedly claimed that the Labour Party had caused more harm in the past two decades than the Iranian regime could in a century. The Iranian regime is known for its severe restrictions on women and minorities, including the LGBT+ community. Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, with the death penalty applicable for male intercourse. Iran has also been accused of killing thousands of its own citizens, with some estimates exceeding 30,000 this year alone following crackdowns on protests.
Folan is reported to have urged the left to "stand firmly against the British state's colonial project to topple the Iranian government" after Britain imposed sanctions related to these killings. She has also called for the abolition of Israel. Following her election, Folan posted on X, stating, "I know there will be Zionists reading this who are utterly furious that I won. I welcome their hatred." She added, "Our party has changed, and my election as a proud anti-Zionist trans woman symbolises that change."
The party is also facing legal action from Green Women's Declaration over a decision to deny the group a stall, which they allege constitutes discrimination. The Good Law Project has pledged to defend the party in this case and has initiated a fundraiser for legal costs.
It is estimated that the Green Party spends approximately £200,000 annually on legal expenses and external investigations into disciplinary matters. One previous case involved former deputy leader Shahrar Ali, who sued under the Equality Act after being removed as a party spokesperson. A judge found the party had unlawfully discriminated against him based on his gender-critical beliefs, awarding him £9,100 in compensation. The judge noted, however, that Ali might still have been removed if the party had followed a proper procedure.
A spokesperson for the Green Party stated, "All elections to Green Party positions are held in accordance with our rules and constitution, and we always act within the law. We do not accept that the flawed EHRC guidance prevents us from continuing to hold our elections in accordance with our rules, and we remain clear that trans women are women, trans men are men and that non-binary identities exist and are valid."