The ongoing controversy surrounding the Green Party’s refusal to publish the Bates Wells legal advice has reached a point where transparency is not just a preference—it’s a necessity. Earlier this week, we reported on the Green Party’s failure to follow its own legal advice. Now, in an unsettling twist, a key figure within the Party’s disciplinary system is publicly questioning the authenticity of that very advice on Green Spaces, the Party’s internal discussion platform.
This is not just an internal squabble. In November 2023, Nathan Williams, a Green Party member, was expelled for sharing the legal advice in his article “It’s Not Easy Being Gender Critical Green.” After Williams’ expulsion, the Party confirmed in its official document that the advice was indeed genuine. It explicitly stated:
“4.1.3 The document which Williams has evidently obtained and published is a communication between GPEW (as client) and Bates Wells (a legal adviser). Its contents are of some relevance to ongoing and prospective litigation between GPEW and other parties.”
If there had been any doubts about the authenticity of the document, they would have certainly been included in the charges against Williams. Yet now, amidst rising concerns from party members, a Green Party Regional Council (GPRC) co-chair is casting doubt on the document’s authenticity.
Transparency should be non-negotiable
The Green Party’s constitution proudly claims a commitment to “open and accountable decision-making”. Yet the Party’s refusal to publish the legal advice, despite members’ repeated calls for transparency, raises serious questions about whether this commitment is genuine. Let’s not forget: members’ fees paid for this legal advice.
The Party’s hesitation to release the document only fuels speculation. The simplest way to end the growing doubts and internal discord would be to publish the legal advice for all members to review. If there is no legitimate reason for keeping it secret—such as references to individuals in a sub judice case then withholding it makes little sense.
What is the Party afraid of?
Publishing the legal advice would not only align with the Party’s stated principles of transparency, but it would also eliminate any lingering uncertainty. Members deserve to know what the Party’s leadership and various disciplinary committees are basing their decisions on. The Party’s continued silence on this matter begs the question: what does it have to hide? If the leadership is truly confident in the advice they received, why not share it and put an end to the speculation once and for all?
Transparency is a core value that should not be compromised. By withholding this information, the Green Party risks damaging its credibility and trust among its own members. If the Party is serious about its commitment to openness, then it’s time to prove it. Publish the legal advice, and let the members decide for themselves.
Greens in Exile urge Party members to attend the Party’s online AGM on Saturday, 9 November, to hold the leadership accountable about this and other current governance issues.
Register for the AGM