The UK’s Electoral Commission has once again rejected the application of gender-critical activist Posie Parker, real name Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, to register her ‘Party of Women’. This marks the second denial for Parker, who had previously faced rejection in September. The commission, an independent body overseeing UK elections and political finance, cited the application as “incomplete,” specifically pointing to issues with the party’s constitution and financial scheme.
Unresolved Technicalities and Accusations
Parker, in a video shared on social media, expressed her frustration over the refusal, attributing it to technicalities. She insisted on having adhered strictly to the commission’s guidelines. However, her comments extended beyond procedural grievances. Parker accused the commission of personal bias against her, citing the presence of staff members’ pronouns in their email signatures as indicative of a targeted campaign against her and women sharing her viewpoints.
Reactions and Responses
The controversy surrounding Parker’s application and its subsequent rejection has sparked a wider debate. PinkNews, reaching out to Parker, received a response echoing her earlier sentiments and emphasizing her determination to resubmit a third application. She stressed the importance of democracy being accessible to all viewpoints. Conversely, a spokesperson for the Electoral Commission clarified the rejection, stating the decision was strictly based on legal criteria set out by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and was not influenced by personal or political views. Parker remains undeterred in her political aspirations, vowing to continue her efforts to establish the Party of Women in the UK.