Comedian Henning Wehn takes dig at transgender aspiring MP after she became in embroiled in row with rival Conservative politician who said she was ‘just a man who wears a wig’
- Melissa Poulton described the comments as ‘transphobic’ and ‘dog-whistling’
Leading comedian Henning Wehn today appeared to rib the appearance of a trans Green wannabe MP who was called ‘a man who wears a wig and calls himself a proud lesbian’ by the Tory deputy chairman for women.
Melissa Poulton, who ran as a Tory local election under the name Matthew Viner at the 2019, has accused Redditch’s Conservative MP Rachel Maclean of ‘gaslighting’ and ‘transphobia’ over her tweet.
Ms Maclean, Rishi Sunak’s Tory Party Deputy Chair for Women, shared a post describing Melissa as ‘a man who wears a wig and calls himself a “proud lesbian”.’
Ms Maclean then said: ‘While the Greens don’t know what a woman is, my Worcestershire neighbours the people of Bromsgrove certainly do’. She has now deleted it and apologised. Others have taken to Twitter to support Ms Maclean, despite her apology.
And German comic Mr Wehn tweeted a clip of Melissa speaking on the BBC calling Ms Maclean transphobic over her ‘wig’ comments and said: ‘I don’t want to be called transphobic and I also don’t want to be accused of targeting minorities but…I mean…come on..please’.
But human right campaigner Peter Tatchell has sprung to Melissa’s defence today – and said the Green candidate, a member of the party since around 2020, is ‘trying to support women’s rights and get more women MPs’.
He told GB News: ‘Melissa was actually trying to support women’s rights and get more women MPs, which is a very honourable thing to do. I’m really disappointed that Rachel Maclean sought to attack Melissa. That’s not a good thing at all. It’s misgendering, it’s not fair and it’s not right’.
Melissa previously stood as a candidate in the Worcestershire County and Wyre Forest District council elections. Comedian Henning Wehn shared this video and comment
Speaking about the aftermath of the online row, Melissa was grateful for support from the Bromsgrove Labour Party and Lib Dems
Melissa Poulton (pictured) described Ms Maclean’s comments as ‘childish games from a government party who’s going to be out office’ after the Tory MP said the Green candidate is a ”a man who wears a wig and calls himself a “proud lesbian”.’
Melissa Poulton before transition (right) campaigning for the Conservative Party in 2019 in local elections
Bromsgrove’s Green parliamentary candidate Miss Poulton, also a member of the party’s Equality and Diversity Committee and former Co-Secretary of the LGBTIQA+Greens, has called Ms Maclean’s comments ‘gaslighting’.
Melissa was born a biological man before beginning to transition last year. It is not clear whether the aspiring MP has had any surgery or a gender recognition certificate.
Rachel Maclean deleted the tweet and apologised for her comments but later said she didn’t apologise for criticising the Green Party’s gender policy
Melissa was pictured on Tory campaign material in 2019, standing as Matthew Viner. In April 2022, campaign material featured the aspiring politician as Mattie Viner and without long hair, standing as a Green in a town council election, finishing third on 155 votes.
Melissa has also hit back after Ms Maclean’s comments, describing the remarks as gaslighting and adding: ‘It’s a shame, without a shadow of a doubt it is a transphobic comment, it’s dog-whistling at the finest.’
The Green candidate was born a biological man before beginning to transition last year. It is not clear whether the aspiring politician has a gender recognition certificate or has had any surgery.
She described Ms Maclean’s comments as ‘childish games from a government party who’s going to be out office’.
Adding: ‘I’m here for representation as a queer woman, as a woman with transgender experience.
‘I’m sure the people of Redditch will see that they’re attacking someone for who they are.
‘We’ll see what happens at the ballot box.’
Ms Maclean has since deleted the original comment on X and said: “I am sorry for any offence caused and I have now deleted the tweet.
‘I believe everyone should be free to live their lives and fulfil their potential regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity and to have the confidence and the freedom to be themselves.’
However, responding to a GB News clip online, she later clarified: ‘In fact, I did NOT apologise for my comments relating to the Green Party’s extreme policies on gender and self-ID ideology and am happy to come on to your program to explain my position in more detail.
‘As Deputy Chair for Women, I am clear that the law allows me to say.
‘What a woman is and the difference between a woman and a trans woman.
‘Both deserve respect and freedom to live their lives but it is not transphobic to say they are not the same thing.
Melissa has been involved in politics for 10 years and has been in the Green Party since 2020
The Green candidate was born a biological man before beginning to transition last year
‘Nor does it assist policymakers across healthcare, education, the CJS to pretend they are.’
Ms Poulton has been involved in politics for 10 years and has been in the Green Party since 2020.
Melissa previously stood as a candidate in the Worcestershire County and Wyre Forest District council elections.
‘I know the people who have hate won’t vote for me but I don’t want their votes anyway’, the Green candidate said.
‘A lot of people have said they will be voting for me.’
Leader of The Redditch Labour Group Joe Baker said Ms Maclean’s comments were ‘absolutely vile and hateful’.
She added: ‘The original author of the post’s intentions are promoting a hate crime and should be reported not liked and reposted.
‘People who hold positions of authority should be looking after those they are in a position to serve.
‘I understand that the situation is sensitive and I believe everyone has a right to their opinions but when that opinion promotes hate and harm then this needs to be challenged.
‘Rachel now needs to question her position.’
Green Party co-leader Carla Denye said: ‘This is a deeply offensive intervention from an elected MP, who should be representing everybody in the community, not making these nasty, snide and divisive comments.’
Ms Maclean was elected as MP for Redditch in 2017 and served as minister for safeguarding in the Home Office between 2021 and 2022.
She became a deputy chair of the Conservative Party in November with responsibility for safeguarding and women.
West Mercia Police said the original post on X had been reported but it was not being treated as a crime.
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