Party of Women
Single-issue political party in the United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Party of Women (POW) is a gender-critical[3][4] and anti-transgender[5] single-issue political party in the United Kingdom, which opposes what it refers to as "trans ideology".[6][7][8] It was founded in 2023 by Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (also known as Posie Parker) and registered in February 2024.[9]
Party of Women | |
|---|---|
| |
| Abbreviation | POW |
| Leader | Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull |
| Nominating officer | Paul Duddridge |
| Treasurer | Kellie-Jay Keen |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Registered | 8 February 2024[1] |
| Headquarters | Bath, Somerset, South West England[1] |
| Ideology | Gender critical ideology Anti-transgender |
| Colours | Black, white, magenta and turquoise |
| House of Commons | 0 / 650 |
| Councillors[2] | 1 / 18,766 |
| Election symbol | |
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| Website | |
| www | |
History
The first application to register the party with the Electoral Commission was rejected in September 2023, due to issues with the proposed constitution and financial schemes.[10] Following an additional failed application in November, the party was formally registered in February 2024.[11][12] The party has aligned itself with Keen-Minshull's views.[9]
On 1 March, the party issued an announcement, committing it to revoke the Gender Recognition Act 2004, and stating that it would reinforce the rights of cisgender women and girls.[13]
The Party of Women stood five candidates in the 2024 local elections, receiving a total of 509 votes with no candidates being elected.[12]
A total of 16 candidates stood for the party at the 2024 United Kingdom general election,[14] receiving a total of 5,077 votes.[15] Keen stood in the new Bristol Central constituency[16] but lost her deposit after gaining only 0.5% of the vote.[17]
Election results
| Election year | Total candidates |
Total votes | % | Seats won | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 5,077 | 0.02 | 0  |
34 |
Local government
The party has never won an election to a local council before and has only ever obtained councillors through defection.
Cllr Mandy Clare of Cheshire West and Chester Council defected to the party in March 2024,[18] having left Labour, giving the party their first representative in local government. Clare left the party a few months later in July 2024[19] to sit as an Independent, before joining Reform UK, then subsequently being arrested for assault.[20] The charges were later dropped due to insufficient evicence.[21]
Cllr Vanessa Bell of Maldon District Council in Essex defected to the party, currently serving as their only elected representative. Bell represents the ward of Burnham-on-Crouch South.[22]