While Maclean has been slammed for her comments, questions have since arisen surrounding Melissa Poulton's true identity following the controversy.
MP Maclean, who is the deputy chair for women, has been labeled "transphobic" for her remarks, but Maclean is standing by her beliefs and maintaining the position that there is a difference between biological women and biological men who have transitioned genders.
"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," said Maclean on X.
MP Maclean's comments were directed at Melissa Poulton, the trans-identified Green Party candidate for Bromsgrove who is running against her in the general election. But who really is "Melissa Poulton?"
Melissa Poulton is formerly known as a man named Matthew Viner. He previously ran as a Conservative Party candidate for the Offmore and Comberton Ward in 2019, according to a political pamphlet.
It appears that "Melissa Poulton" has only recently decided to "transition" from male to female. Images taken in 2022 show Poulton presenting himself as a male. Photos began to emerge of him wearing female wigs just this past year. In addition, Poulton describes himself as a "proud lesbian," according to his personal biography.
Poulton has since accused Maclean of transphobia, according to a video posted on X that shows the candidate wearing a blonde wig and male clothing in the clip.
"Without a shadow of a doubt, it is transphobic. It is dogwhistling at the finest. It's gaslighting. It's everything. By attacking a minority group it's just yeah, you know, it's just a shame," Poulton said.
Maclean's remarks came after Poulton, who launched a bid for parliament last week, published a video in which the candidate endorsed the 50:50 Parliament campaign, an endeavor to boost the number of women serving in the House of Commons.
In the video, Poulton said: "Representation matters and shapes policy…I encourage the most amazing, brilliant women to stand for politics," according to BashkTV.
After that video was published, Maclean shared an article about Poulton and said: "While the Greens don't know what a woman is, my Worcestershire neighbours the people of Bromsgrove certainly do," the outlet reports.
In November, MP Maclean became the Conservative Party's deputy chair with the responsibility of safeguarding and women.
In a statement to the BBC, Maclean wrote: "Everyone in the UK 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."
Joe Baker, Labour group leader at Redditch Borough Council, called Maclean's remarks both "absolutely vile" and "hateful."
"People who hold positions of authority should be looking after those they are in a position to serve," he said. "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."
Poulton told the outlet: "We'll see what happens at the ballot box."
