{"id":2492,"date":"2024-09-13T17:35:28","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T17:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/greens-hit-with-90000-legal-bill-after-discrimination-case\/"},"modified":"2024-09-13T17:35:28","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T17:35:28","slug":"greens-hit-with-90000-legal-bill-after-discrimination-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/greens-hit-with-90000-legal-bill-after-discrimination-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Greens hit with \u00a390,000 legal bill after discrimination case"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Greens hit with \u00a390,000 legal bill after discrimination case<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1b5y2ub-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ey0461q0\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-1vfya96-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1b8f9gm-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A handout picture of Sharar Ali wearing a blazer and t-shirt when he held his role as justice spokesperson for the Green Party.\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/xU7Nhb.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/e1a4\/live\/077f68c0-71e3-11ef-b282-4535eb84fe4b.jpg 976w\" width=\"1536\" height=\"828.4606376057254\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1hbb5i-BylineComponentWrapper e8mq1e90\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-qt5zqv-BylineWrapper e8mq1e917\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-h3c0s8-ContributorContainer e8mq1e916\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1u2in0b-Container-ContributorDetails e8mq1e913\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-68pt20-Text-TextContributorName e8mq1e96\">Sam Francis<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e8mq1e910\">Political reporter<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-jlwt2c-Divider e8mq1e915\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"metadata-block\" class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\"><time data-testid=\"timestamp\" datetime=\"2024-09-13T17:20:50.307Z\">11 minutes ago<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">The Green Party of England and Wales have been ordered to pay \u00a390,000 to cover the costs of their former deputy leader, who won a discrimination case against them.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Shahrar Ali had already been awarded \u00a39,100 in damages in February, after the court ruled the Greens had unlawfully discriminated against him during a row over his gender-critical beliefs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Today&#8217;s ruling raises questions about the Greens&#8217; financial stability after auditors warned the case left &#8220;uncertainty&#8221; about the party\u2019s ability to operate normally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A spokesperson for the party, who had their best-ever election this year with four MPs, said ruling &#8220;will have no detrimental impact on our work in the future&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"links-block\" class=\"ssrcss-12l5xzx-LinksComponentWrapper e3eyuya0\">\n<section class=\"ssrcss-msolhr-LinksWrapper e3eyuya5\">\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-mh3hvv-InContentLinksGrid e3eyuya3\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Green Party loses &#8216;gender critical&#8217; court battle<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">9 February<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Greens may increase membership fee amid legal woes<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">30 September 2023<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The Green Party declined to reveal the full cost of legal proceedings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The party&#8217;s latest full accounts show \u00a3280,000 was set aside for potential legal bills.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The party removed Ali as its spokesman for policing and domestic safety in February 2022 for breaching the party&#8217;s Spokespeople Code of Conduct.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The court ruled Ali&#8217;s removal as &#8220;procedurally unfair&#8221; because the Green Party identified no code breaches at his dismissal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Judge Stephen Hellman said he could not rule out the possibility that this unfairness had been due Ali&#8217;s gender critical beliefs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But the judgement found political parties can remove spokespeople for holding &#8220;beliefs that were inconsistent with party policy&#8221;, if done through fair procedures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Judge Hellman ruled that the Greens must cover 60% of Ali&#8217;s costs &#8211; with \u00a372,000 due to his legal team within 28 days and the remainder to follow a cost review.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Speaking outside the court, Ali said Green Party leaders are &#8220;in total denial about the significance of this landmark case and its implications for party governance&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;But you cannot be in denial about the expense of breaking the law or risk of bankruptcy in continuing to fall afoul of it,&#8221; Ali said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;To the 60,000-strong membership: I urge you to take charge of the destiny of this party \u2013 now.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The BBC understands several other Green Party activists who hold similar views are planning legal action against the party off the back of Ali&#8217;s case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The party&#8217;s accounts suggest multiple cases could put strain on its finances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Facing an \u00a380,000 cash shortfall entering an election year, the party increased membership fees from \u00a33.33 to \u00a35 a month last September.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Since then, the party&#8217;s finances have improved to the point it had a \u00a395,000 cash surplus in April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A Green Party spokesperson said the party was &#8220;pleased the case is at an end&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A statement said: &#8220;We have accounted for the full costs of the cases. Its outcome will have no detrimental impact on our work in the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;We continue to build on the brilliant local and national election results over the last year securing real change for the country.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"topic-list\" class=\"ssrcss-1qmkvfu-TopicListWrapper etw6iwl1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-113c0cq-StyledTagContainer ed0g1kj1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-50vlbt-TopicListHeaderWrapper etw6iwl0\">\n<h2 type=\"normal\" class=\"ssrcss-ad2rmd-Heading e10rt3ze0\">Related topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17ehax8-Cluster e1ihwmse1\">\n<ul role=\"list\" spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1ujonwb-ClusterItems e1ihwmse0\">\n<li>Green Party (England and Wales)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Published at Fri, 13 Sep 2024 17:20:50 +0000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greens hit with \u00a390,000 legal bill after discrimination case Getty Images Sam Francis Political reporter 11 minutes ago The Green Party of England and Wales have been ordered to pay \u00a390,000 to cover the costs of their former deputy leader, who won a discrimination case against them. Shahrar Ali had already been awarded \u00a39,100 in&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/greens-hit-with-90000-legal-bill-after-discrimination-case\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Greens hit with \u00a390,000 legal bill after discrimination case<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2491,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-politics","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}