2 weeks Ago
Green campaigners have been accused of misleading voters over a scandal involving one of its councillor alleged to have yelled 'Nazis' at a group of women attending a vigil. Activists in Norwich, where the party is contesting city council by-elections next month, having been trying to dismiss the claims against Charlie Caine as a "pack of lies". The tactics emerged after a canvasser knocked on the door of Sarah Walker, who was at the vigil for Afghan women and children which the councillor is said to have barracked and who complained to police about the incident.
The unnamed activist claimed the allegations had been "made up" when he called on Ms Walker at her home in Norwich's Sewell ward, where the party is standing a candidate. The vigil hosted by Norwich Women's Rights Group (Image: Norwich Women's Rights Group) Ms Walker said: "I said I couldn't vote Green because I was one of the group who were at the vigil and the guy said it was all a pack of lies which had been made up by a journalist. "I said I was there and it had happened to me.
He said something along the lines of 'are you telling me you witnessed it?' "The thing that scares me is that he clearly believes what he has been told, but he wasn't there. "Is this the line the Greens are taking on the doorstep when the issue is raised?" Lucy Galvin (Image: Submitted) Lucy Galvin, leader of the Green group at Norwich City Council, said: "We are regularly out talking to people and we value these conversations. "This was a short conversation on the doorstep.
"There was an investigation into this matter and they did not find any breaches of the code of conduct." Green councillor Charlie Caine (Image: Denise Bradley) The councillor for Mile Cross was said to have shouted "Nazis" and "transphobes" at the Norwich Women's Rights Group members at the vigil on February 1 . The group holds gender critical views and has raised concerns about the impact of trans ideology on women and girls, although members stressed the vigil was not related to this issue.
The councillor is a transman, someone who was born female but identifies as male, and has criticised the group's stance in the past. A police investigation into the allegations led to the politician, who has not commented to the press about the circumstances around the alleged remarks, being issued with "words of advice" by Norfolk Constabulary . A separate investigation was carried out by an independent legal expert for Norwich City Council and concluded after five weeks.
The council said the legal expert found there was no breach of its code of conduct because the councillor was not acting in an official role at the time . But a former Green Norwich city councillor, who did not want to be named, said the Green Party had "let itself down again". The ex-councillor, who is still a member of the national party, criticised the organisation "not only for misrepresenting what has actually taken place, despite there being witnesses from the general public, but also in not issuing an unequivocal apology for this unseemly behaviour unbecoming of a public servant".
THE EDP SAYS A doorstep encounter with a political canvasser is always a worthwhile experience. It’s a rare opportunity for engagement on any issue. And for the campaigner it is a chance to test their mettle in grassroots debate.
But not for the Green activist who knocked on Sarah Walker’s door in Norwich’s Sewell ward, where a by-election is being held next month. The issue Ms Walker chose to engage on was the conduct of the party’s councillor Charlie Caine, who is accused of yelling ‘Nazis’ at a group of women holding a silent vigil in the city. Ms Walker is well placed to discuss the councillor’s behaviour, because she was one of the women at the vigil and witnessed what was said.
The nameless campaigner did not take their opportunity, however, instead dismissing the whole affair as a “pack of lies”. That is not good enough. This is a party that has failed to comment meaningfully on this scandal.
If it believes it is a “pack of lies” it should explain why. Council by-elections have long been a time for sharp practices - activists hiding rival’s leaflets, for instance - but it is rare for a party to be caught out in such a bare-faced, shameless manner. The Green Party’s failure to address this scandal will not end well for them.
On this issue, they seek comfort in conspiracy theories, denials and - when it comes to the press - near silence. Their activists’ tactic seems to be to smear others behind their backs, while otherwise trying their best to ignore the issue and pretend it goes away. They will eventually find this is not the basis for sustainable politics and is making them an increasingly toxic brand.
For its own good, and for the good of voters, the party’s leaders and the councillor concerned need to speak honestly about that vigil. What happened? Are they happy with the conduct displayed? Once these questions are answered people can start to move on..
