Background to case

Six months ago, on 2 Feb 2022, I initiated a course of legal action against the Green Party of England and Wales.

At the heart of this case is my unjust treatment as the Green Party national spokesperson for Policing and Domestic Safety. Following my appointment, on 7 June 2021, I was subjected to a coordinated campaign of discrimination and victimisation because of my gender critical beliefs, which are protected under s.10 of the Equality Act. This campaign of discrimination was conducted, induced or aided by members of the Party including by officers, elected representatives and committee members.

A group of officers, after failing to amass enough votes to remove me at the Executive meeting of 24 June 2021, engineered a new series of processes through which to further target me. In Oct 2021, following a leadership contest triggered by the resignation of both Co-leaders, I was asked to address some concerns about "trans rights" under a newly formed Spokesperson support and monitoring group. Unknown to me this Group had an ulterior motive, quite independently of my capacity to defend my statements as a spokesperson. In the words of the joint Coordinators for Equality and Diversity:

"It appears that, from its very inception, the Group was set up with the primary intention of censuring Shahrar Ali. [. . .] As Equality and Diversity coordinators, our integrity is key; therefore, we cannot continue to validate this process by remaining part of this Group." (29 Jan 2022)

On 5 Feb 2022, a majority on the Executive voted to remove my spokesperson role. They did so despite a Letter Before Action and the resignation of an executive officer the day before. It is understood they also acted contrary to their own legal advice. I was not officially informed of my removal, nor the specific reasons for it, before a public announcement was made on Twitter alleging breaches of the Spokespersons code of conduct.

Speaking live on Free Speech nation about my case, 10 July 2022.

Six months on

This discrimination case is going the distance. I have been targeted with impunity even since my removal as a spokesperson and this only strengthens my resolve to see justice done for my earlier mistreatment. I want to be clear, this case it not so much about me personally but it is about:

1. The right of women to be able to defend their access to same-sex spaces or provision of services when crucial to their dignity or safety.
2. The right of children to be protected from online prescription of puberty blockers, without medical due diligence, leading to a potential pathway of life-altering drug dependency for life.
3. The right of women to be able to self-organise, or congregate, without fear of intimidation, silencing or cancellation.

Morally and politically my determination is as strong as ever. Fighting injustice is not something I can just switch off. It's in my bloodstream. The recent legal victories of Maya Forstater and Allison Bailey are highly relevant to this case as they concern discriminatory treatment in professional settings. The tide is already turning following the great campaigning of Sharron Davies and Daley Thompson, who I had the honour of meeting to discuss the impact of transgender athletes on women's sporting competition. 

My case is of particular interest as, if successful, it will lay down a legal marker that discrimination against political representatives for their gender critical protected belief is not tolerable. Given the importance of political debate to informing public policy and driving good legislation we must confront and overcome the authoritarian attempt to silence and intimidate. I recently was able to express solidarity in person of the plight of Rosie Duffield; this is nothing if not a cross-party political case.

New legal team

These cases need eye-watering sums of money to progress and reach trial. I have already raised a significant sum of funds to this point. Through the page Sex-Based Rights vs Cancel Culture, £37, 843 has been raised from 1,247 pledges, many of you giving more than once. I cannot thank you enough for your donations, alongside incredible messages of support, publicly and privately. I have also put my life's savings into this case and my biggest headache is financial.

I know money is tight all round and I do not ever want anyone to give more than they can afford but I want you to know I am determined to win this case for us all. I feel past the half-way mark and in a good position to take a deep breath before the next round of fundraising and legal preparations.

Please be assured that I will only set fundraising targets with one to two months' legal business in mind. These are realistic goals but funds are generally required quite urgently so please do use the countdown to help us reach our target.

Thank you, with every fibre of my being, for your continued support for this claim to defend the right of every politician to be free from discrimination for expressing their protected belief in the reality of biological sex.

More Interviews

You can read coverage in The Telegraph from 19 Feb 2022 Green Party spokesman sues after being sacked for transgender views or watch my interview on 27 Feb 2022 below.