BREAKING: Green Party figures knew Equality Spokesperson’s father had been charged with sexual offences in 2016 leftfootforward.org/2018/09/exclus… #AimeeChallenor
This contradicts the party's initial statement which said ‘the Green Party was not aware of any of these allegations until the case concluded’ (2/x) #AimeeChallenor
Messages seen by LFF confirm that Challenor knew her father had been charged with sexual offences in November 2016 - and that she informed elected party figures #AimeeChallenor (3/x)
Then-Green Party External Coordinations Coordinator Matt Hawkins says he was not aware David Challenor was a member, but did inform the press office (4/x) #AimeeChallenor
Child rapist David Challenor continued to be active in the party and serve as an election agent for both his wife Tina and for daughter Aimee, who both stood in this year’s local elections. LFF understands that none of them are now party members #AimeeChallenor (5/x)
Matt Hawkins, then External Coordinations Coordinator: “Aimee approached me and told me that her father was under investigation by the police...At the time she was not informed of the exact details of the offences, only that they were sexual in nature" (6/x) #AimeeChallenor
The Green Party told LFF it would not comment while the independent investigation was underway, and referred us to the latest statement which said: "The investigation will identify the facts as well as where failures occurred so that the party can learn any lessons needed" (7/x)
#AimeeChallenor has now said she informed the party of charges against her father in 2016 (see below).
Does sit uneasy with claim she did not know 'full details' - messages show she knew number of charges and that they included sexual offences (8/x)
Does sit uneasy with claim she did not know 'full details' - messages show she knew number of charges and that they included sexual offences (8/x)
#AimeeChallenor has now responded: "I am disappointed that the Green Party failed to clarify that I informed [them of the charges] in 2016, and that they allowed myths to form that I hid the issue from the party"
She says: "In August I apologised for appointing my father as my Election agent. It is for GPRC to answer for why they chose to suspend me for allegedly not telling the party when the evidence shows I did...I'll be continuing to work with Veritas investigators." #AimeeChallenor
The Green Party's elections coordinator has accused former GPEX members Matt Hawkins and Clare Lorraine Phipps of 'negligence' after they were informed of charges against #AimeeChannelor's father but allegedly failed to escalate the issue:
Former party chair Clare Lorraine Phipps responded to Judy: ""The public insinuation that I should have told you [that #AimeeChannelor's father had been charged with sex offences] is bizarre, misleading to others, and very hurtful to me."
Note: Party source has wisely pointed out that Matt Hawkins states HQ press team were informed that a *spokesperson’s* family member was facing charges - not #AimeeChallenor’s specifically. This suggests staff would have had no idea who it was
