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Green party leadership: Siân Berry says she won't stand Green party leadership: Siân Berry says she won't stand
(about 1 hour later)
Siân Berry, the Green party’s candidate for London mayor, has ruled herself out of standing for the party leadership following Natalie Bennett’s resignation, but said she will contact potential candidates to urge them to consider the role.Siân Berry, the Green party’s candidate for London mayor, has ruled herself out of standing for the party leadership following Natalie Bennett’s resignation, but said she will contact potential candidates to urge them to consider the role.
The party’s deputy leaders – Amelia Womack and Shahrar Ali – are among those thought to be potential successors when Bennett’s four-year stint as party leader formally comes to an end in the summer. The Greens’ deputy leaders Amelia Womack and Shahrar Ali are among those thought to be potential successors when Bennett’s four-year stint as leader formally comes to an end in the summer.
Rumours are also circulating that Caroline Lucas, the party’s one MP and former leader, could consider standing again. It is understood that two senior figures in the party, Jennifer Nadel and Jonathan Bartley, could stand for the role jointly as a job share. Nadel is a broadcaster, barrister and writer who stood for the Greens in Westminster North at the 2015 general election. Bartley came second in the race to be the Greens’ London mayoral candidate and is the party’s work and pensions spokesperson.
Berry said Bennett had to be succeeded by someone with “experience”, but others argued that the party needed fresh blood. Rumours are also circulating that Caroline Lucas, the party’s sole MP and former leader, could consider standing again.
Berry said Bennett had to be succeeded by someone with experience, but others argued that the party needed fresh blood.
Related: What do you think of Natalie Bennett's leadership of the Green party?Related: What do you think of Natalie Bennett's leadership of the Green party?
Baroness Jenny Jones, the Green Party peer who has also ruled herself out, said: “I think Natalie Bennett has been absolutely superb. She has been out there giving thousands of interviews and going all round the country. It is a really tough job and I am disappointed that she is stepping down but I understand. The Green party peer, Jenny Jones, who has ruled herself out, said: “I think Natalie Bennett has been absolutely superb. She has been out there giving thousands of interviews and going all round the country. It is a really tough job and I am disappointed that she is stepping down, but I understand.
“What we need now is some new people to come forward. There is incredible talent in the party who are not well known because they are not elected. We need somebody new to the public – it is so difficult to get known and this is one of the ways of raising profile. I hope to see a good contest.”“What we need now is some new people to come forward. There is incredible talent in the party who are not well known because they are not elected. We need somebody new to the public – it is so difficult to get known and this is one of the ways of raising profile. I hope to see a good contest.”
Berry said that the media had rounded on Bennett after her car crash interview on LBC during last year’s general election campaign but failed to see the work she had done “travelling around the country, motivating local parties”. Berry said the media had rounded on Bennett after her disastrous interview on LBC during the election campaign last year, but failed to see the work she had done “travelling around the country, motivating local parties”.
She wrote on Facebook: “The number of people from the Greens here and on Twitter who are saying how many times she visited their area is an incredible tribute to just how hard Natalie has worked to build up local parties and our presence across the country.” She wrote on Facebook: “The number of people from the Greens here and on Twitter who are saying how many times she visited their area is an incredible tribute to just how hard Natalie has worked to build up local parties and our presence across the country.
Berry told the Guardian: “People focus on the media stuff, but it is not the main thing she does.” She said she would not stand as leader because she wanted to focus on her work as a London assembly member, but also said she couldn’t do it because of a short break from membership a few years ago. “People focus on the media stuff, but it is not the main thing she does,” Berry told the Guardian. She said she would not stand as leader because she wanted to focus on her work as a London assembly member, but also that she could not do it because of a short break from membership a few years ago.
Lucas didn’t comment on whether she would consider the role. Lucas did not comment on whether she would consider the role.
“Natalie has done a great job as leader, and I know the whole party will want to thank her for her tireless work. The party’s membership grew fourfold, we have more councillors, more MEPs and a higher vote share than before,” she said. “Natalie has done a great job as leader and I know the whole party will want to thank her for her tireless work. The party’s membership grew fourfold, we have more councillors, more MEPs and a higher vote share than before,” she said.
“What’s struck me most about Natalie’s leadership is her determination to stand up for the voiceless – from asylum seekers, to people on disability benefits. That’s been the hallmark of her time at the top of the party. “What’s struck me most about Natalie’s leadership is her determination to stand up for the voiceless – from asylum seekers to people on disability benefits. That’s been the hallmark of her time at the top of the party.
“I wish Natalie all the best – and look forward to campaigning alongside her in the coming weeks for Britain’s continued membership of the European Union.” “I wish Natalie all the best and look forward to campaigning alongside her in the coming weeks for Britain’s continued membership of the European Union.”