Chris Luffingham and the Green Party Scandal

In 2019 the Green Party faced a scandal involving serious allegations of sexual misconduct against one of its former senior members, Will Duckworth. The party has been criticised for prioritising its image over protecting children, and Chris Luffingham, the former Head of Campaigns, played a significant role in the unfolding events.

In December 2014, an email was sent to the Green Party’s headquarters, alerting staff to allegations against Duckworth. The email described it as “downright criminal” that Duckworth, who was a councillor at the time, was allowed to hold a position of trust in the community and visit constituents’ homes, potentially giving him access to young girls. This message was forwarded to Chris Luffingham the following day.

Despite being informed, the Green Party did not take immediate action to suspend Duckworth pending a full investigation. Duckworth continued in his role as a councillor and remained active at senior levels within the party for another two years. It wasn’t until November 2018, after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), chaired by Professor Alexis Jay, warned the Green Party that it would be investigating the case, that the party began to address the allegations seriously. By this time, Duckworth had already stepped down as a councillor in 2016.

In early 2019, under the party’s new safeguarding policy, Duckworth was placed under a “no-fault suspension” and subsequently resigned his membership. The Green Party has since admitted to a “serious omission and failure” in handling the allegations and issued an unreserved apology.

Chris Luffingham’s involvement in the case highlights a significant lapse in the party’s response to safeguarding concerns. As the head of campaigns, he was one of the senior officials informed about the allegations but appears to have failed to initiate a timely investigation or take protective measures. Indeed the Green Party has admitted that, “the allegations had not been investigated… We would hold up our hands and say this was a serious omission and failure.” This failure allowed Duckworth to continue his political activities unimpeded, undermining trust in the Green Party’s commitment to safeguarding.

According to a witness statement by, Liz Reason, Chair of th Executive of the Green Party of England and Wales, to The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in 2019:

“From the information ascertained so far it appears that key officers spoke to the member accused of child sexual abuse in the email and established that no child sexual abuse charges had been brought against them. Our current safeguarding team’s investigation into the detail of this initial response, and the reasoning behind it, continues.”¹

The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the importance of rigorous safeguarding policies and the need for political parties to prioritize the protection of vulnerable individuals over their public image. The Green Party has since committed to continuing the investigation into Duckworth, despite his resignation and departure from the country.

The case underscores the critical role of accountability and transparency in political organisations, emphasising the necessity for immediate and decisive action when allegations of misconduct arise.

Chris Luffingham’s apparent inactivity—whether deliberate or due to negligence—echoes a recurring pattern in his career, as evidenced by Jordi Casamitjana’s frustration over unresolved concerns about the League Against Cruel Sports’ pension fund, ultimately leading to negative publicity akin to that experienced by the Green Party in handling similar complaints.

Footnotes

1. Witness Statement of Liz Reason, Chair of th Executive of the Green Party of England and Wales, to The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, 21 March 2019 ↩︎

Further Reading:

Greens ignored sex claims against deputy leader Will Duckworth, The Sunday Times, April 14 2019
Greens accused of caring more about protecting their image then protecting children, Left Foot Forward, February 27, 2020.