Keen observers of the Green Party’s governance may have noticed the unexplained absence of three members of the Standing Orders Committee (SOC) at their recent meeting on Saturday March 8th. All were referred to by the two remaining members of SOC (Ash Routh & Melanie Earp), in the context of discussions that had taken place on the private Trello system, as though they were still members of the committee. Which of course they are, having been elected by Conference. But it seems that they can no longer participate in committee business as they have all been placed on temporary* emergency suspension (pending investigation) by the Green Party Regional Council (GPRC) -where Mel Earp is a co-Chair.
So who are these three people deemed by GPRC to present a danger to the Party?
Martha James is a long-standing member of the Green Party of England & Wales (GPEW) and until recently served as a co-Chair of GPRC.
Martin Hemingway has filled many roles over the years, recently as the national Election Returning Officer (ERO). He is currently the Convenor of SOC.
Sarah Bingham has acted as ERO for Special Interest Groups (SpIGs) and has a reputation for ensuring fair elections. She was elected to SOC for a third term at the Autumn Conference in 2024.
What did they do that was so dangerous?
We think it is that they made a majority ruling on SOC that allowed the North West region elections for their reps to GPRC to go ahead in Feb/March 2025. It had been argued that when Mel Earp & Amanda Onwuemene were elected in Nov 2024 it was for a two year term and not just until the next scheduled elections. The ruling disagreed. The election took place and the results were that Amanda Onwuemene was re-elected but Mel Earp was not.
The complaints against the SOC3 apparently alleged that their ruling was politically motivated when in fact it was based on the words of the ERO who oversaw the Nov election, which made it clear that the roles on GPRC would only last until the next scheduled elections.
Why does it matter and what needs to happen?
SOC cannot function without the co-convenors, nor when inquorate, as it now is with three members suspended. SOC is the body that ensures other bodies act in line with the Constitution and oversees the business at Conference. It is arguably the most important of the Governance bodies and, without SOC, the accountability of our other governing bodies has been effectively neutralised.
We can only speculate as to any part Mel Earp may have played in this sorry saga but all responsible should feel ashamed. Three good people are temporarily unable to contribute and we call on the Green Party Executive (GPEx) and GPRC to rectify this situation immediately.
“Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” – John Andrews
*Although emergency suspensions are supposed to be ‘temporary’ these sanctions imposed by GPRC often remain in place for excessively long periods. They are increasingly being viewed as a way for GPRC to silence their political opponents. See Suspended, Expelled, Resigned or Meet The Exiles for more information.