Eleanora Folan, a newly elected representative for the Eastern Region on the Green Party Council (GPC), has ignited controversy with a series of online posts in which she described the Labour Party as "infinitely more evil" than the regime in Tehran and responsible for "millions" more deaths.
Folan, who identifies as a "self-described Communist and 'anti-Zionist trans woman,'" made these claims on an X account she runs, "Stats for Lefties." She asserted that Labour had killed and maimed far more people in the past 20 years than the Iranian regime could "ever possibly dream of doing in a century." In one post, she stated that Labour under Tony Blair and Keir Starmer was "directly responsible for far more death, suffering and outright genocide in the 21st century alone than the Iranian regime could ever possibly imagine."
She also expressed anti-Israel sentiments, praying for Palestine to be "freed from the bloodthirsty Zionist entity" and for Israel to be "abolished." Folan welcomed the anticipated anger from "Zionists" reading her posts, stating, "Our party has changed, and my election as a proud anti-Zionist trans woman symbolises that change."
Folan's election to the GPC, which oversees culture, wellbeing, policy, and strategy within the Green Party, has drawn condemnation from political opponents. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the Green Party, stating, "Today's Green Party is virulently antisemitic." He also condemned Folan's praise for the Iranian regime, which he characterized as a "regime that slaughtered 30,000 of its own citizens earlier this year and has killed women for not covering themselves."
Former anti-extremism tsar Lord Walney likened the situation to issues within the Labour Party during the Jeremy Corbyn era, suggesting that "the sickness" has now "fully engulfed the Greens."
A Labour Party spokesperson called Folan's comments "disgraceful" and questioned the judgment of Zack Polanski, suggesting he should not have allowed Folan to remain in the party. "It is outrageous that Zack Polanski has allowed Eleanora Folan to remain in his party – and even more extraordinary that they now sit on the Green Party's governing council," the spokesperson said.
Folan's online activity also includes praise for Chinese President Xi's communist regime and advocating for the reduction of Britain's armed forces. She wrote, "Not enough. Slash it, slash it, slash it" in response to a post about declining military numbers.
A Green Party spokesperson stated that GPC members are elected by region and that the party has processes in place to review members' views that may not align with Green Party values. Folan was contacted for comment.