Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Principal Speaker
)

Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales
Incumbent
Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay
since 1 October 2021
AppointerMembers of the Green Party of England and Wales
through leadership elections held biennially
PrecursorPrincipal Speakers
Formation5 September 2008
First holderCaroline Lucas
DeputyZack Polanski (since 7 September 2022)

The Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales is the most senior political figure within the Green Party of England and Wales. The role was introduced alongside that of deputy leader in 2008. Prior to this, the party's public spokespersons were principal speakers. There were two principal speakers, one female and one male, who were elected annually at the Green Party's Autumn Conference and held no vote on the Green Party Executive (GPEx).

A referendum passed on 30 November 2007 that abolished the posts of principal speakers and a leader and deputy were elected at the party's next autumn conference on 5 September 2008.

Role and history

The principal speakers performed the public and media roles undertaken by the leaders of more conventional political parties.

gender balance. It also symbolises their belief in the need for a society in which people are empowered and involved in making the decisions which affect them. In the party's Philosophical Basis, it states that the Green Party "reject[s] the hierarchical structure of leaders and followers, and, instead advocate[s] participatory politics" and it is "for this reason" that the Green Party has eschewed an individual leader.[1]

There were six principal speakers in the UK Green Party until 1991, when changes introduced by the Green 2000 grouping reduced this to two and streamlined the organisation of the party.[2] This left a system with which neither side in the 2007 leadership referendum was happy.

2007 Leadership referendum

At the party's 2007 spring conference in Swansea, members voted to hold a cross-party referendum on whether the posts should be changed to leader and deputy leader (with the option for co-leaders if two candidates chose to run together and were gender balanced, in the event of which there would be no deputy leader). The new system would allow the leader and deputy (or co-leaders) to vote on GPEx and, rather than being elected annually (like the principal speakers), the posts would be elected every two years. Provisions for recalling the leader and deputy were articulated.[3] Despite the controversial nature of this issue, many participants, such as Siân Berry, were struck by the how "constructive" the debate turned out to be.[4]

On Friday 30 November 2007 the ballots were counted and members voted 73% to 27% in favour of the new leadership model, with a 48.3% turnout of Green Party members.[5]

The 'Pro-Leader' side – Green Yes

Supporters of the 'Green Yes' campaign for a yes vote in the referendum included the then-principal speaker Caroline Lucas MEP, Siân Berry, Darren Johnson AM (a Green member of the London Assembly), environmental commentator and Green member Mark Lynas, former principal speaker Jonathon Porritt, councillors from Lewisham, Brighton, Norwich, Leicester and Lancaster, and members of the Green Party Executive (GPEx), including Jim Killock (external communications officer), elections coordinator Peter Cranie and Khalid Hussenbux, the party's financial coordinator.[6]

The Green Yes campaign believed that the Green Party needed a leader to reach its potential and that, if the party did not reach its potential, it would be "selling-short our planet and everything on it". They suggested that the party's success has been too slow and that "a leader would help set direction, political focus and make sure the party gets the resources to grow". The campaign hoped that having a Leader would be "about empowering the party" and "about accountability", in that a Leader would "mean we can identify who to hold to account when things need changing". The group added that other

Green Parties in the world had leaders and remained "just as Green as the rest of us".[6]

Mark Lynas, in several editions of his New Statesman blog, further claimed that the name 'Principal Speaker' was not transparent to the public, that it wasted valuable time in explaining the system to the media and that it lacked credibility.[7] Darren Johnson characterized the lack of single leader as "just a ridiculous barrier in terms of getting our really important message across".[8]

The 'Anti-Leader' side – Green Empowerment

Supporters of the 'Green Empowerment' campaign for a no vote in the leadership referendum included the then-Principal Speaker

Timothy Beaumont (Green member of the House of Lords), prominent human rights campaigner and Green member Peter Tatchell, Noel Lynch (London Green Party Coordinator and former London Assembly member), councillors from Scarborough, Lewisham, York, Norwich and Hackney, and members of the Green Party Executive (GPEx), including Campaigns Coordinator, Tim Summers, and Pete McAskie (Management Coordinator).[9] Some members, like Matt Sellwood, while in favour of a Leader system in principle, were opposed to the current referendum because the term of reelection would be extended to two years.[citation needed
]

Supporters of Green Empowerment wanted to "uphold the Green Party's long-standing commitment to non-hierarchical structures and 'grassroots' democracy" through "collective leadership". They believed that a single leader "would not only draw attention away from other speakers and the wider Party, but would bring with it risks that the other parties in this country are all too well aware of". The campaign focused on retaining

gender balance in party structures, and avoiding the dilution of their radical policies. They focused on success under the Principal Speaker system, seen in the steady buildup of support from the low point of the 1992 general election to the situation at the time of the referendum, where the party has over 100 councilors along with two members of the European Parliament and two members of the London Assembly.[9]

Derek Wall countered pro-leader arguments by stating that "if you are a clear speaker, there's no problem getting coverage and explaining the party's views." He was concerned by the history of past political parties that started off as being participatory until they adopted a single leader system in which the members became "puppets".[8] Wall also opposed the reduction in numbers of Principal Speakers from six to two in 1992, as advocated by the Green 2000 group.[2]

Party Leader era

In September 2008 Caroline Lucas was elected as the party's first leader. Lucas was reelected in 2010 but chose not to stand in 2012, when Natalie Bennett was elected her successor. After Bennett stood down in 2016 Lucas returned as leader, this time sharing the position with Jonathan Bartley.[10]

In 2018, Siân Berry replaced Lucas as co-leader, with Bartley continuing in the role.

In July 2021 Jonathan Bartley announced he would be standing down as the party's co-leader at the end of the month, triggering the 2021 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election.[11] Siân Berry remained as acting leader, but decided not to stand in the leadership election due to her concerns over the party's message on trans rights. In her statement, Berry cited unspecified spokesperson appointments as being inconsistent with her pledge to support trans equality.[12]

Leaders

Principal Speakers (1990–1992)

Prior to 1992 six principal speakers were elected annually.

Principal Speakers (1992–2008)

Year Male principal speaker Female principal speaker
Feb–Sep 1992
Richard Lawson
 Jean Lambert
1992–1993 Mallen Baker
1993–1994 John Cornford Jan Clark
1994–1995 David Taylor
1995–1996 Peg Alexander
1996–1997
1997–1998 Mike Woodin -[clarification needed]
1998–1999 Jean Lambert
1999–2000 Margaret Wright
2000–2001
2001–2002 Darren Johnson
2002–2003
2003–2004 Mike Woodin Caroline Lucas
2004–2005 Keith Taylor
2005–2006
2006–2007 Derek Wall Siân Berry
2007–2008 Caroline Lucas

Party leadership (2008–present)

Leader
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office Election
Caroline Lucas
(1960–) 		5 September 2008 3 September 2012 2008
2010
Natalie Bennett
(1966–) 		3 September 2012 2 September 2016 2012
2014
Caroline Lucas
(1960–) 		2 September 2016 4 September 2018 2016
Jonathan Bartley
(1971–) 		31 July 2021 2016
2018
2020
Siân Berry
(1974–) 		4 September 2018 1 October 2021 2018
2020
Carla Denyer
(1985–) 		1 October 2021 Incumbent 2021
Adrian Ramsay
(1981–)

Timeline

Carla DenyerAdrian RamsaySiân BerryJonathan BartleyNatalie BennettCaroline Lucas

Deputy Leadership (2008–present)

Deputy Leader
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office Election
Adrian Ramsay
(1981–) 		5 September 2008 3 September 2012 2008
2010
Will Duckworth
(1954–) 		3 September 2012 1 September 2014 2012
Shahrar Ali
(????–) 		1 September 2014 31 August 2016 2014
Amelia Womack
(1985–) 		7 September 2022 2014
2016
2018
2020
Zack Polanski
(1982–) 		7 September 2022 Incumbent 2022

Election results

2021

Main article: 2021 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election
Candidate 1st round 2nd round
Votes % Votes %
Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay[13] 5,062 44 6,274 62
Tamsin Omond and Amelia Womack 3,465 30 3,902 38
Shahrar Ali 2,422 21
Martin Hemingway and Tina Rothery 342 3
Ashley Gunstock 212 2
Re-open Nominations
 		22 0.2

2020

Candidate 1st round 2nd round
Votes % Votes %
Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry 3,000 48.9% 4,238 57.5%
Rosi Sexton 1,978 26.9% 2,618 35.5%
Shahrar Ali 1,735 23.6%
Re-open nominations
 45 0.6%

2018

Candidate Votes %
Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry 6,329 75.5
Shahrar Ali 1,466 17.5
Leslie Rowe 495 5.9
Re-open Nominations
 		89 1.1

2007

Female Principal Speaker
Candidate Votes %
Caroline Lucas 1,190 78.0
Jenny Jones
 335 22.0
Male Principal Speaker
Candidate Votes %
Derek Wall 752 49.6
Darren Johnson 625 41.3
Ashley Gunstock 138 9.1

2006

The Female Principal Speaker post was won by Siân Berry, without a contest.[14]

Male Principal Speaker election[14]
Candidate Votes %
Derek Wall 767 52.1
Keith Taylor 705 47.9

2004

The Female Principal Speaker post was won by Caroline Lucas, without a contest.[15]

Male Principal Speaker election[16]
Candidate Votes %
Keith Taylor 52
John Phillips 42

Chairs

1990: Mallen Baker, John Laker and Judy Maciejowska
1991: John Laker, John Norris and Sara Parkin
1992: Sara Parkin
1993: John Norris
1994: Jean Lambert
1995: John Morrissey
1996: Jenny Jones
1998: Alan Francis
2000: Penny Kemp
2003: Hugo Charlton
2006: Richard Mallender
2008: James Humphreys
2009: Jayne Forbes
2011: Jo Steranka
2012: Tim Dawes
2014: Richard Mallender
2016: Clare Phipps
2018: Liz Reason
2022: Jon Nott

Regional variations

The leader of the

gender balance principle and emulated the Principal Speaker structure, including the LSE Students' Union Green Party, who have a Female and Male Co-Chair.[18]

References

  1. ^ "The Green Party of England and Wales' Philosophical Basis". Policy.greenparty.org.uk. Archived from the original on 8 May 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b Wall, Derek, Weaving a Bower Against Endless Night: An Illustrated History of the Green Party, 1994
  3. ^ "Green Yes Website – Copy of the Full Motion to Conference on Creating a Leader and Deputy Leader or Co-Leaders" (PDF). Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  4. ^ Berry, Sian (26 March 2007). "Siân Berry's New Statesman Blog – A leader for the Greens?". Newstatesman.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Leadership referendum result". December 2007.
  6. ^ a b Green Yes Website
  7. ^ "Mark Lynas' New Statesman Blog – Even Greens need leaders". Newstatesman.com. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Politics | Greens consider getting a leader". BBC News. 26 March 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Green Empowerment Website". Greenempowerment.org.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  10. ^ BBC News (31 May 2018). "Green leaders: who came before Caroline Lucas?". Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Jonathan Bartley: Green Party co-leader to stand down". BBC News. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  12. ^ Elgot, Jessica (14 July 2021). "Sian Berry quits as Green party leader in dispute over trans rights". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  13. ^ "BREAKING: Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay elected as Green Party co-leaders". Bright Green. October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  14. ^ a b Election results announced, Green Party of England and Wales, 24 November 2006
  15. ^ "Caroline Lucas & Keith Taylor returned as Greens' Principal Speakers", Brighton & Hove Green Party, 3 November 2004
  16. ^ "Caroline Lucas and Keith Taylor continue in party's top post", Green Party of England and Wales, 4 November 2004
  17. ^ "About Anthony Slaughter". Wales Green Party. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  18. ^ "LSE". Young Greens. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2010.

External links

Main

Historical

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leader_of_the_Green_Party_of_England_and_Wales&oldid=1217909716"