The Green Party has barred the Green Women’s Declaration (GWD), a gender-critical women’s group, from hosting a stall at its annual conference in Brighton, citing concerns that the group’s presence would make transgender members “feel unsafe.” The decision was made by the Green Party Executive (GPEx), which includes party leader Zack Polanski.

In a communication to the GWD, GPEx stated that the group’s prior conduct raised safety concerns for trans members, although no specific details or evidence were provided to substantiate these claims. This marks the second consecutive year the GWD has been denied a stall at the party’s conference; similar allegations were made last year without accompanying evidence.

The GWD, which describes itself as a defender of sex-based rights within the party, advocates principles emphasizing the distinction between biological sex and gender identity, the necessity of female-only spaces, and recognition of lesbians as same-sex attracted females. The party’s conference, which begins today, is anticipated to be one of its largest, drawing thousands of attendees.

Zack Polanski is scheduled to deliver the opening speech but is also expected to campaign for the upcoming by-election in Holborn and St Pancras. The GPEx, comprising 22 voting members including Polanski and deputy leaders Mothin Ali and Rachel Millward, oversees the Green Party’s day-to-day operations.

The GWD is currently pursuing legal action against the Green Party over last year’s decision to exclude their stall. A pre-action letter alleges that the party’s refusal constitutes discrimination based on the protected belief that biological sex is immutable. This legal challenge follows a Supreme Court ruling last year interpreting “sex” under the Equality Act 2010 as referring to biological sex rather than gender identity. Additionally, earlier guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) restricted access of trans women—individuals assigned male at birth—to female changing rooms and toilets.

The Green Party has taken a differing stance, supporting gender self-identification without medical diagnosis and describing the EHRC’s guidelines as “deeply regressive.” Jude English, a director of the GWD, expressed regret that legal action had become necessary, emphasizing that senior party figures “do not yet understand that the Human Rights Act includes the rights of women as a sex class,” and that the Equality Act places a duty on the party to uphold those rights.

In response, the Green Party reaffirmed its commitment to inclusivity, stating it “always strives to be a welcoming and inclusive place,” and that this year’s conference would be the largest to date.