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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Natalie Bennett to step down as Green Party leader | Natalie Bennett to step down as Green Party leader |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Natalie Bennett has announced she will stand down as leader of the Green Party in England and Wales this August, after four years at the helm of the party. | Natalie Bennett has announced she will stand down as leader of the Green Party in England and Wales this August, after four years at the helm of the party. |
| Ms Bennett said she would not stand for re-election when her second two-year term in office expires this summer. | Ms Bennett said she would not stand for re-election when her second two-year term in office expires this summer. |
| The Australian former journalist said she intended to remain "fully engaged" in the Green Party after stepping down. | The Australian former journalist said she intended to remain "fully engaged" in the Green Party after stepping down. |
| Green peer Baroness Jones and London mayoral candidate Sian Berry have said they do not want the job. | |
| Baroness Jones tweeted that she had "no leader ambitions", while Ms Berry wrote on Facebook that she "definitely will not be standing in the election for a new leader". | |
| Ms Bennett said she had been "proud to lead a party through a period of phenomenal expansion and increased impact". | |
| An ex-journalist who worked for the Telegraph, the Independent, the Times and the Guardian, she became party leader in September 2012. | An ex-journalist who worked for the Telegraph, the Independent, the Times and the Guardian, she became party leader in September 2012. |
| She succeeded Caroline Lucas, the Green Party's MP for Brighton Pavilion. | She succeeded Caroline Lucas, the Green Party's MP for Brighton Pavilion. |
| Earlier this month, she defended her leadership after the Greens lost four councillors in local elections in England, and won a 2.5% share of vote in the Welsh Assembly elections, behind UKIP. | Earlier this month, she defended her leadership after the Greens lost four councillors in local elections in England, and won a 2.5% share of vote in the Welsh Assembly elections, behind UKIP. |
| 'Increased public understanding' | 'Increased public understanding' |
| In a statement, Ms Bennett said: "With the support of our passionate members and supporters we have been able to achieve much in a relatively short period." | In a statement, Ms Bennett said: "With the support of our passionate members and supporters we have been able to achieve much in a relatively short period." |
| "There's greatly increased public understanding that when you want the honest, caring, committed view - one that isn't guided by the views of the latest focus group or fear of a tabloid backlash but by fundamental principles and values." | "There's greatly increased public understanding that when you want the honest, caring, committed view - one that isn't guided by the views of the latest focus group or fear of a tabloid backlash but by fundamental principles and values." |
| Ms Bennett took part in televised leaders' debates ahead of last year's general election. | Ms Bennett took part in televised leaders' debates ahead of last year's general election. |
| Last year, she had to apologise to members following a radio interview in which she blamed "brain fade" for her inability to explain a series of party policies. | Last year, she had to apologise to members following a radio interview in which she blamed "brain fade" for her inability to explain a series of party policies. |
| After announcing her decision, she told the Guardian: "There have been times when I got things right, and times when I got things wrong, but that's because I'm not a smooth, spin-trained, lifelong politician. | After announcing her decision, she told the Guardian: "There have been times when I got things right, and times when I got things wrong, but that's because I'm not a smooth, spin-trained, lifelong politician. |
| "It's both my strength and my weakness that I answer the question." | "It's both my strength and my weakness that I answer the question." |
| Richard Mallender, chairman of the Green Party Executive, thanked Ms Bennett for "her outstanding leadership over the past four years." | Richard Mallender, chairman of the Green Party Executive, thanked Ms Bennett for "her outstanding leadership over the past four years." |
| Nominations for Ms Bennett's successor will open on June 1 and close on June 30. | Nominations for Ms Bennett's successor will open on June 1 and close on June 30. |
| A one-month balloting period will begin on 24 July with the result to be announced at the party's autumn conference, in September. | A one-month balloting period will begin on 24 July with the result to be announced at the party's autumn conference, in September. |