Party to investigate how Aimee Challenor’s father was able to be her election agent after arrest

A rising young member of the Greens has pulled out of the race to become the party’s deputy leader after her father, who was previously her election agent, was jailed for abusing and raping a child.

Aimee Challenor, the Greens’ equalities spokeswoman, who was among the frontrunners in the leadership contest, said she had had no idea about the crimes, but was withdrawing to prevent the election process becoming “dominated by what my father has done”.

David Challenor, 50, was jailed for 22 years last week after being convicted of torturing and raping a 10-year-old girl in the attic of the family home in Coventry. He had served as Aimee Challenor’s election agent when she stood in the 2017 general election and in the local elections in May this year – after his arrest.

In a statement announcing her withdrawal from the deputy leadership contest the 20-year-old said she was horrified and saddened by her father’s crimes, and only learned the full details of them very recently, despite living at the family home.

“That might be hard for you to understand, or to believe, but it is the truth,” she said. “I was taken into care a few years ago and have also lived in independent supported housing. There were sustained periods where I did not live in the family home.”

She added: “Yes, he was my election agent. This was one of a number of ways I was seeking to reconcile my relationship with my father after coming out of care. On reflection, I can understand that it was unacceptable for me to appoint my dad as my election agent when he had been arrested.”

Aimee Challenor joined the Greens in 2015, and became the party’s equalities spokeswoman a year later, with a particular focus on LGBT issues – she is a trans woman.

In a statement, the Greens said the party had not been told anything about David Challenor’s arrest or charges during the nomination processes, and that it was urgently reviewing its disclosure and safeguarding policies. It added: “We apologise unreservedly that Mr Challenor was able to act as an election agent for Aimee Challenor in the 2017 general election and the local elections in May this year despite the nature of the charges brought against him.

“A full investigation into how this was able to happen is taking place. His membership was terminated with immediate effect as soon as the information was brought to the attention of decision makers.”



The Green party, which reselects its top lineup every two years, is choosing replacements for the leadership team of Caroline Lucas, the party’s sole MP, and Jonathan Bartley.

With Lucas opting to step back from the leadership, Bartley is standing on a joint ticket with Siân Berry, a councillor in Camden, north London, and a member of the London assembly. They are seen as the favourites in the race.

Five candidates stood for deputy leader, among them Challenor and Amelia Womack, who has filled the role for four years. Party members have the month of August to vote, with the results to be announced in the autumn.