Green Party Unveils Controversial Policies on Sex Work and Pornography
A confidential policy document from the Green Party, obtained by the Daily Mail, has exposed radical proposals to legalise prostitution and eliminate censorship of sexually explicit pornography. The official party stance advocates for the decriminalisation of all sex work involving consenting adults, while calling for an end to restrictions on adult material, with exceptions only for child protection measures.
Brothels on British High Streets Under New Licensing System
Under the Green Party's comprehensive plans, brothels could become a common feature on Britain's high streets, as commercial properties would be permitted to convert into such establishments. Local authorities would implement a licensing framework designed to protect both workers and clients, while minimising nuisance and abuse within local communities. Notably, residential properties could operate as brothels without requiring a licence, and specific areas would be designated for street prostitution to ensure safety without disturbing residents and traders.
Leadership and Candidate Support for Decriminalisation
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has publicly endorsed these policies, emphasising during his leadership campaign last year that decriminalisation empowers workers to establish their own terms and conditions. Similarly, Hannah Spencer, the Green candidate in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, has affirmed her support, stating clearly that sex work should not be criminalised. This by-election is anticipated to be a closely contested race among the Greens, Labour, and Reform UK.
Political Backlash and Electoral Implications
However, Spencer's stance may jeopardise support in Gorton and Denton, where the Greens have targeted Muslim voters through campaign videos in Urdu. Prostitution is considered haram, or sinful, in Islam, potentially alienating this demographic. Rival parties have condemned the proposals, with a Conservative Party spokesman arguing that legalisation exposes vulnerable women to exploitation and that the Greens lack governmental seriousness. Reform UK, which recently proposed the 'Polanski law' targeting illegal entry, criticised the Greens for advocating legalised prostitution, drugs, and open borders.
Additional Policy Measures and Worker Protections
The Green Party's broader agenda includes empowering sex workers to unionise and urging government, public services, and the judiciary to combat stigmatisation. Workers would also receive free regular health checks to safeguard both themselves and their clients. These policies are determined through member votes at the party's annual conference, though they are currently accessible online only to members since the start of the 2024 general election campaign.
A Green Party spokesperson defended the approach, stating, 'Rather than criminalising people for choices they make about their own bodies, we will take the industry out of the hands of criminal gangs and ensure sex workers are properly protected.' This statement underscores the party's commitment to shifting control away from illicit networks and towards regulated, safer practices.
