EXCLUSIVE Wife and stepson of aspiring MP branded ‘a man in a wig’ in row with rival Tory candidate want nothing to do with her after she walked out and changed gender
- Melissa Poulton is now the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Bromsgrove
The family of an aspiring transgender MP branded ‘a man in a wig’ in an extraordinary row with a rival Tory candidate say they have been left devastated by her decision to become a woman – and want nothing to do with her.
Melissa Poulton ran as a Conservative candidate as a man for Wyre Forest District Council when she was called Matthew Viner at the 2019 local elections.
She is now the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Bromsgrove, having transitioned to a woman.
She has accused Tory Party Deputy Chair for Women Rachel Maclean of ‘gaslighting,’ ‘transphobia,’ and ‘dog whistling’ after she shared a tweet that described Melissa as ‘a man who wears a wig and calls himself a ‘proud lesbian’.’
Prior to becoming a woman, Melissa had been in a relationship with Janice Poulton for 19 years, which came to an end last December when she shockingly told her that she planned to transition and then left the family home.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Melissa’s stepson Ollie Poulton said Janice has been left heartbroken by the split – and said: ‘It has devastated the whole family, especially my mum.
Melissa has been involved in politics for 10 years and has been in the Green Party since 2020
Ollie’s mother Janice (pictured) and Melissa were together for almost two decades after meeting in 2011
Ollie (pictured) who was speaking from the former marital home his mother (pictured) and Melissa shared in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, said: ‘I think him living like a woman had been going on for some time, even before he told my mum about it’
Melissa Poulton before transition (right) campaigning for the Conservative Party in 2019 in local elections
‘We don’t speak to this person and my mum doesn’t want to have anything to do with them. They don’t exist as far as we’re concerned. If there is contact, then it’s usually something to do with a domestic matter, but it’s very minimal.’
Ollie, who was speaking from the former marital home his mother and Melissa shared in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, added: ‘I think him living like a woman had been going on for some time, even before he told my mum about it. She was doing it in secret.
‘It’s been very hard for her because she didn’t know anything about it until one day in December, just before Christmas, he sat her down and told mum that he planned to become a woman. It was a real bombshell for her and she’s still getting over it.’
Melissa’s stepson Ollie Poulton (pictured) said Janice has been left heartbroken by the split
After sharing the controversial post, Redditch MP Ms Maclean wrote: ‘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.
It led to a furious war of words with Melissa, who is fighting for the Bromsgrove seat which adjoins Ms Maclean’s constituency.
Melissa protested: ‘It’s quite strange that she would attack me. She’s attacking me for being who I am and standing in a neighbouring constituency.
‘I’m flabbergasted. We are not even going to be standing in the same constituency. When I have been speaking to residents, they have been supportive of me.’
She added: ‘It’s a shame, without a shadow of a doubt it is a transphobic comment, it’s dog-whistling at the finest.’
Ollie’s mother Janice and Melissa were together for almost two decades after meeting in 2011. The couple have a daughter, Hailie, 18, and Janice also has three sons from a previous relationship.
Ollie revealed that he and his other siblings were only informed by their mother what had taken place earlier this year after Melissa had left.
He said: ‘I was very shocked. I always got on well with him but then towards the end he started behaving weirdly. He was always going out on Green Party stuff late into the night and we hardly ever saw him.
The family of aspiring transgender MP Melissa Poulton (pictured) branded ‘a man in a wig’ in an extraordinary row with a rival Tory candidate say they have been left devastated by her decision to become a woman and want nothing to do with her
Melissa had been in a relationship with Janice Poulton (pictured) for 19 years
Melissa Poulton (pictured) is now the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Bromsgrove, having transitioned to a woman
‘It’s 2023 and you have to get over it, but we don’t speak about this person and are not interested in what they’re getting up to. It’s hit Hailie particularly hard because this was her father, and he was living here with her and mum.’
Melissa was born a biological man before beginning to transition late last year. It is not clear whether the aspiring MP has had any surgery or a gender recognition certificate.
She faced criticism after sharing a video where she voiced her support for an initiative to help increase female representation in Parliament.
Ms Maclean was elected as MP for Redditch in 2017 and became a deputy chair of the Conservative Party in November with responsibility for safeguarding and women.
After deleting her original comment on X she said: ‘I am sorry for any offence caused and I have now deleted the tweet.
Rachel Maclean deleted the tweet and apologised for her comments
‘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.
Read more: Aspiring MP who unsuccessfully stood as a male Tory candidate campaigns again as ‘a proud lesbian’ Green party hopeful – as Conservative politician is forced to apologise for calling rival ‘just a man who wears a wig’
‘Nor does it assist policymakers across healthcare, education, the CJS to pretend they are.’
Melissa is also a member of the party’s Equality and Diversity Committee and former Co-Secretary of the LGBTIQA+Greens. She has been involved in politics for 10 years and has been in the Green Party since 2020.
The row has led to heated opinions being exchanged by leading figures.
Human right campaigner Peter Tatchell spoke out in Melissa’s defence- 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’.
Others have taken to X to support Rachel Maclean, despite her apology.
Comedian Henning Wehn tweeted Melissa speaking on the BBC 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 Mr Tatchell 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’.
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.’
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