Green Party Backs Plan to Decriminalise Prostitution and Allow Licensed Brothels on British High Streets Ahead of Gorton and Denton By-Election

The Green Party has quietly reaffirmed one of its most controversial policies: it wants prostitution between consenting adults to be decriminalised in Britain.

According to party policy, sex work should no longer be treated as a criminal matter, and laws restricting access to sexually explicit pornography should largely be scrapped — except where they are designed to protect children.

The position, long supported internally by members, has come back into sharp focus ahead of a key by-election.

Under the proposals, brothels could legally operate on Britain’s high streets, provided they are licensed by local councils.

The idea, Greens argue, is to bring the industry into the open, regulate it properly, and remove it from the control of criminal networks.

How the Proposed System Would Work

The party’s plan would allow commercial premises to be converted into licensed brothels.

Councils would oversee operations to ensure safety standards are met, both for workers and clients.

Interestingly, the policy also suggests that brothels operating out of residential properties would not require a licence.

It goes further still. The Greens propose designated areas where street-based sex workers could operate without fear of prosecution — with the intention of reducing disruption to local residents and businesses while keeping workers safer.

Health provision forms part of the package too.

The party supports free, regular health checks for sex workers and encourages unionisation to improve working conditions and bargaining power.

Leadership Support and Election Tensions

Green leader Zack Polanski has publicly backed decriminalisation, arguing that removing criminal penalties would “put the power in the workers’ hands” to negotiate their own terms and improve safety.

The issue has become politically charged in the run-up to the Gorton and Denton by-election, where the Greens are competing closely with Labour and Reform UK.

Their candidate, Hannah Spencer, has made clear she supports decriminalisation — a stance that has sparked fierce criticism from rivals.

The debate is particularly sensitive in the constituency, which has a significant Muslim population.

Prostitution is widely considered forbidden under Islamic teaching, and critics argue the policy may alienate sections of the electorate.

Backlash From Rivals

Opposition parties have not held back.

Conservative figures have described the policy as evidence that the Greens are “not serious” about governing, warning that prostitution can expose vulnerable women to exploitation.

Reform UK has gone further, linking the proposal to what it describes as a broader pattern of radical policies — including the Greens’ stance on drug decriminalisation.

The Prime Minister, during a recent visit to the constituency, also criticised the party’s approach to drugs policy, calling it irresponsible.

Although the focus of that criticism was on narcotics, it has fed into a wider narrative portraying the Greens as pushing sweeping liberal reforms across multiple areas.

A Long-Standing Debate in British Politics

The debate around sex work is far from new.

Advocates of decriminalisation often point to countries such as New Zealand, where prostitution was decriminalised in 2003 and is regulated under labour law.

Supporters argue that removing criminal penalties improves reporting of violence and reduces stigma.

Critics, however, frequently cite examples from countries with legalised or partially legalised systems, such as parts of Germany and the Netherlands, where concerns have been raised about trafficking and organised crime operating alongside regulated markets.

The UK currently operates under a patchwork of laws.

Selling sex itself is not illegal, but many related activities — including running a brothel or soliciting in public — are criminal offences.

That legal grey area is precisely what the Greens say needs reform.

Pornography and Censorship

The policy also touches on pornography.

The party argues that restrictions and censorship of sexually explicit material should be removed except where children are involved.

In their view, consenting adults should be free to access legal content without state interference.

That position, too, is likely to generate heated debate in Parliament and beyond, particularly as concerns about online harms and digital safety continue to dominate political discussions.

What’s Next?

The immediate test of public appetite for the policy may come in the Gorton and Denton by-election. A strong showing for the Greens could embolden them to push the issue more prominently on the national stage.

If the party were ever in a position of real legislative influence, proposals like this would require significant parliamentary backing — something that, at present, remains uncertain.

In the meantime, the debate over how Britain should approach sex work — criminalisation, decriminalisation, or a regulated legal model — looks set to intensify as voters weigh competing visions of personal freedom, public safety, and moral responsibility.

Summary

By SOPHIE CHURCH – POLITICAL REPORTER
Published: 19:06 EST, 23 February 2026 | Updated: 01:42 EST, 24 February 2026

The Green Party has reaffirmed its policy supporting the decriminalisation of sex work between consenting adults and easing restrictions on sexually explicit pornography. The proposal would allow licensed brothels to operate legally and introduce designated safe areas for street-based sex workers, alongside expanded health support and union rights. Party leader Zack Polanski backs the approach, framing it as worker empowerment. Rival parties have strongly criticised the plans, particularly in the context of the closely contested Gorton and Denton by-election. The issue has reignited a broader national debate about how Britain should regulate sex work and balance public safety with personal freedom.