Green councillors resign from party over concerns of misconduct and safeguarding

Two BCP councillors have resigned from the Green Party, over concerns about misconduct, abuse of power and the handling of safeguarding issues within the organisation.

Councillors Kate and Joe Salmon, who represent Moordown ward, said they had taken the “difficult decision” to leave the Green Party of England and Wales and will now sit as independent members on BCP Council.

The pair said they first raised issues through party channels in late 2024, including with senior officers and national bodies, but claim no “timely or effective action” was taken.

In a statement, Cllr Joe Salmon said he could no longer remain in a party where he believed internal processes were failing: “I will not tolerate the abuse of power or undermining of democratic processes, I have tried in good faith and for a long time to get the Party to address serious problems regarding conduct, but nothing has been done. Frankly I no longer have confidence that the Party is willing or able to act in line with its own values and rules.”

He said one of his key concerns related to how local election candidates are selected, he said decisions about candidates were made “without a clear or fair process”.

He added: “I am particularly concerned that factors such as links to more senior figures in the Party may be able to influence outcomes.” He continued on to say this “risks damaging trust in the fairness and independence of the selection process.”

Cllr Salmon also raised wider concerns about governance and accountability, warning that poor oversight could have serious consequences. “When organisations do not manage power properly, the impact is real. It affects people’s safety, wellbeing and livelihoods, public trust depends on fair and transparent processes.”

Cllr Kate Salmon echoed those concerns, saying she believed some complaints had not been handled consistently or in line with proper procedures, she said: “In some cases, proper process was not followed and decisions appear instead to have been made because of political pressure and manoeuvring.

“It appears that serious complaints around abuse, misuse of power and misconduct may be handled differently depending on who is involved.”

She also raised concerns about the handling of safeguarding matters within the party, “In my view, these situations have not always been dealt with in a consistent or fair way. I am concerned that factors such as someone’s role or position in the party may influence decisions, as well as other factors such as gender. Where elected representatives are involved, scrutiny should be stronger, not weaker.”

Despite their departure, both councillors said they remain committed to representing residents in Moordown.

“We were elected to represent them, not a party machine,” Cllr Kate Salmon said. “We will continue to act in their interests with integrity, openness and accountability.”

She added that she was leaving the party “with deep regret and sadness” but felt there was “nowhere left to go” after attempts to resolve the issues.

BCP Green Party said: “We were very sorry to receive Kate and Joe’s statement that they are leaving the BCP Green Group. We wish them the very best for the future and hope we can continue working together constructively to deliver for the people of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

“We appreciate the work they have done during their time with the Green Party and are sure they will continue to serve residents in Moordown well as Independent councillors.

“Our focus remains on continuing to deliver for residents across the area, and on the local priorities that matter most to our communities.”

BCP Green Group Councillor Chris Rigby said: “I am sorry to hear that Joe and Kate Salmon have resigned from the Green Party. They have both given a great deal to this party over many years and their commitment to the people of Moordown is clear. I respect the difficulty of the decision they have made.

“The BCP Green Party remains focused on representing our communities and on the elections in 2027. We are a party that takes its values seriously and I am committed to ensuring we continue to do so. I wish Joe and Kate well in their continued work as independent councillors and hope to be able to work with them constructively on issues across BCP.”