The leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, Zack Polanski, has said a BBC News presenter’s on-air response to inclusive language was “unprofessional.”

In June, Martine Croxall was presenting on the BBC News Channel when she introduced an item about those most at risk of dying during a heatwave. In a clip that went viral at the time, Croxall read the words “pregnant people” from the teleprompter before raising her eyebrows and going off-script to add: “women.”

“Pregnant people” is a gender-inclusive term that reflects the fact some non-binary people and trans men can carry children.

The moment was picked up on by both trans allies and members of the gender-critical movement with Croxall being celebrated by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who is well-known for her outspoken views on trans issues.

The BBC initially dismissed complaints regarding the incident but last week the broadcaster’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) decided that Croxall had fallen short of impartiality guidelines by expressing a “controversial view about trans people”.

Over Sunday (9 November) Polanski appeared on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Philipps programme. During the interview, the Green Party leader was asked whether the BBC was right to censure Croxall over the incident.

The politician replied: “Trans women are women, and trans men are men, and also non binary identities also exist. And I think it’s always important to be really clear about that.”

He then went on to say: “In terms of a BBC, they obviously have their own editorial guidelines, it’s not for me to tell the BBC how to conduct themselves. In fact, it’s for me to be scrutinised.

“If you’re asking me in my opinion, though, I think it’s really important that journalists are independent and impartial, and I think eye-rolling, as a journalist, is clearly an unprofessional….”

Philipps then cut Polanski off by asking, “if trans women are women, why don’t we just say women?” The broadcaster then conflated two topics (trans women being women as one and ‘pregnant people’ encompassing more than women, the other) by also asking, “who needs ‘pregnant people’ when you’ve got the word, ‘women’?”

Polanski replied: “Well, I think those are different questions to the question you’re asking me, which is, should a journalist be eye rolling?” He was then succinctly able the question which had started the conversation: “I just think it’s quite obvious, no, they shouldn’t,” before the interview was brought to an end.

On Reddit people were frustrated by the host’s “excruciating” confusion over the topic, leading to a poor and rushed conversation. At the same time, people celebrated Polanski for “reiterating the unvarnished truth on our rights.”

Last month, Polanski, who was announced as the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales in September, was similarly applauded for how he handled questions about transgender issues from Piers Morgan.

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