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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/31/green-party-launches-inquiry-as-it-suspends-aimee-challenor
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Green party launches inquiry as it suspends Aimee Challenor | Green party launches inquiry as it suspends Aimee Challenor |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The Green party has announced an inquiry into how the father of a candidate for the party’s deputy leadership was allowed to remain her election agent 18 months after he was charged with raping and torturing a child, offences that led to him being jailed last week. | The Green party has announced an inquiry into how the father of a candidate for the party’s deputy leadership was allowed to remain her election agent 18 months after he was charged with raping and torturing a child, offences that led to him being jailed last week. |
| The party said Aimee Challenor, who has insisted she did not know the full details of the allegations against her father, David, had been suspended pending the results of the independent investigation. | The party said Aimee Challenor, who has insisted she did not know the full details of the allegations against her father, David, had been suspended pending the results of the independent investigation. |
| The suspension was on a no-fault basis, the Greens said in a statement, promising also that the inquiry, the format of which will be announced later on Friday, would seek any “difficult lessons” about safeguarding. | The suspension was on a no-fault basis, the Greens said in a statement, promising also that the inquiry, the format of which will be announced later on Friday, would seek any “difficult lessons” about safeguarding. |
| Several Green members have expressed alarm after it emerged that officials took no action to suspend David Challenor or restrict his activities in the party until he was jailed for 22 years for torturing and raping a 10-year-old girl in the attic of the family home in Coventry. | Several Green members have expressed alarm after it emerged that officials took no action to suspend David Challenor or restrict his activities in the party until he was jailed for 22 years for torturing and raping a 10-year-old girl in the attic of the family home in Coventry. |
| David Challenor’s first court appearance over the allegations took place in November 2016. But ahead of his trial, which began this month, he acted twice as his daughter’s election agent, at the 2017 general election, and in May’s local polls. | David Challenor’s first court appearance over the allegations took place in November 2016. But ahead of his trial, which began this month, he acted twice as his daughter’s election agent, at the 2017 general election, and in May’s local polls. |
| I look to a future in which Aimee Challenor being trans doesn’t matter | Caroline Lucas | I look to a future in which Aimee Challenor being trans doesn’t matter | Caroline Lucas |
| During this period he was allowed to remain active in the party, even though the Coventry Pride group, for whom he had volunteered, barred him following the first court appearance. | During this period he was allowed to remain active in the party, even though the Coventry Pride group, for whom he had volunteered, barred him following the first court appearance. |
| Aimee Challenor, 20, who was made the party’s equalities spokeswoman last year, was standing to be the party’s new deputy leader. She withdrew from the race at the weekend following her father’s conviction. | Aimee Challenor, 20, who was made the party’s equalities spokeswoman last year, was standing to be the party’s new deputy leader. She withdrew from the race at the weekend following her father’s conviction. |
| One party figure said they were “agonised, horrified and furious” at the apparent safeguarding failure, and hoped the Greens, a party that remains heavily localised and largely dependent on volunteers, would learn lessons from this. | One party figure said they were “agonised, horrified and furious” at the apparent safeguarding failure, and hoped the Greens, a party that remains heavily localised and largely dependent on volunteers, would learn lessons from this. |
| A Greens spokeswoman said: “Aimee Challenor has today been suspended on a no-fault basis from the Green party of England and Wales, following consideration by the relevant internal bodies of a number of complaints that have been made against her. | A Greens spokeswoman said: “Aimee Challenor has today been suspended on a no-fault basis from the Green party of England and Wales, following consideration by the relevant internal bodies of a number of complaints that have been made against her. |
| “An investigation will be conducted by an external agency into the circumstances and disclosures surrounding Aimee’s father being able to act as her election agent, while facing charges for serious sexual assault against a minor.” | “An investigation will be conducted by an external agency into the circumstances and disclosures surrounding Aimee’s father being able to act as her election agent, while facing charges for serious sexual assault against a minor.” |
| The spokeswoman added: “The Green party takes its safeguarding responsibilities and duties of care extremely seriously and is committed to learning any difficult lessons needed.” | The spokeswoman added: “The Green party takes its safeguarding responsibilities and duties of care extremely seriously and is committed to learning any difficult lessons needed.” |
| Aimee Challenor, a trans woman who has campaigned particularly on LGBT issues, has said she was horrified by her father’s crimes and “only learned the full details of them very recently, despite living at the family home”. | Aimee Challenor, a trans woman who has campaigned particularly on LGBT issues, has said she was horrified by her father’s crimes and “only learned the full details of them very recently, despite living at the family home”. |
| The Green party, which reselects its top lineup every two years, is choosing replacements for the leadership team of Caroline Lucas, the party’s sole MP, and Jonathan Bartley. | The Green party, which reselects its top lineup every two years, is choosing replacements for the leadership team of Caroline Lucas, the party’s sole MP, and Jonathan Bartley. |
| With Lucas opting to step back from the leadership, Bartley is standing on a joint ticket with Siân Berry, a councillor in Camden, north London, and a member of the London assembly. They are seen as the favourites in the race. | With Lucas opting to step back from the leadership, Bartley is standing on a joint ticket with Siân Berry, a councillor in Camden, north London, and a member of the London assembly. They are seen as the favourites in the race. |
| Five candidates stood for deputy leader, among them Challenor and Amelia Womack, who has filled the role for four years. Party members had August to vote, with the results to be announced next week. | Five candidates stood for deputy leader, among them Challenor and Amelia Womack, who has filled the role for four years. Party members had August to vote, with the results to be announced next week. |
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