Zack Polanski’s Green Party has come under scrutiny after leaked proposals showed it avoids using the word “woman” in a new menstrual leave policy, amid ongoing disputes over the Supreme Court’s ruling on biological sex.
The draft plans, set to be debated at the party’s Autumn Conference, suggest giving “all workers who menstruate” up to 36 days of paid leave a year. That would amount to around three days off each month during menstruation, without the need for medical proof.
The wording of the proposal notably uses “workers who menstruate” rather than directly referring to women, according to The Spectator.
The discussion comes more than a year after the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that “woman” in the Equality Act refers to biological sex. Despite this, reports claim hundreds of public bodies across England and Wales are still not fully aligned with the ruling, including NHS trusts, police forces, councils, and government departments.
Polanski has also been accused by critics of creating a “hostile environment” for gender-critical voices, while campaigners have described the party’s internal culture as a “witch-hunt” against dissenting members.
Under the proposed policy, menstrual leave would not count as sick leave or be taken from annual holiday allowance. People with conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, or PCOS could also qualify for extra time off beyond the standard allowance, with medical confirmation required once a year.
The motion was submitted by Allan McLeod, a male trade union representative for the Darlington Green Party, who has also served on the party’s National Disciplinary Committee and is described as supportive of trans rights based on his online activity.
If approved, the policy would sit within the party’s “Workers Rights and Employment” section of its wider policy programme.
A Green Party spokesperson said the proposals are not final, stressing that conference is still months away and not all submitted motions will be debated. They added that only a conference vote can turn any proposal into official party policy.
The annual conference is due to take place in Brighton in October, where members will also consider other motions, including calls to ban male circumcision in children and a resolution describing “Zionism is racism.”
The party has also seen internal disagreement over antisemitism concerns, with Polanski facing criticism from groups such as the Global Majority Greens. Separately, a health policy working group has been consulting on whether non-therapeutic circumcision should require informed consent from children old enough to decide for themselves.
Party officials say working groups operate independently during policy development and that none of the ideas discussed represent official party policy unless approved at conference.
