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Greens await vote on dual leaders Greens vote to have single leader
(about 14 hours later)
The Greens in England and Wales are due to announce if their members have voted to change the party's policy of having two "principal speakers" as leaders. The Green Party in England and Wales has voted to change its rules so it has just one leader in future.
About 7,000 people have been balloted on whether the current set-up should remain, or if the party should have a single figurehead instead. The decision, backed by 73% of members who took part in a ballot, ends the previous system of having two "principal speakers".
Dr Caroline Lucas and Derek Wall share the role, as party rules say there must be one man and one woman in the job. Caroline Lucas, a current principal speaker, said this would mean "strengthening our effectiveness".
Dr Lucas favours a revamp to the system but Mr Wall does not back that idea. Some Greens had said that having a single leader would compromise the party's principles.
Last month a YouGov poll of 2,127 UK adults suggested 84% of people thought the party should have one leader. About 7,000 Green Party members were balloted, with just over half taking part.
But while environmental issues have been prominent recently in the policies of most political parties, the Greens have yet to make a breakthrough at Westminster. Of these, 27% were against the idea of a single leader.
'Move forward'
Ms Lucas said: "I'm delighted about this result. The party can now move forward together and onto the job in hand. We have an urgent green message to communicate and many votes to win.
"This is a fantastic day for the Green Party and will help ensure we have a party that is understandable, recognisable and effective.
"But we now need to demonstrate to all our members, regardless of which way they voted, that this is not about weakening our principles, it's about strengthening our effectiveness."
Ms Lucas and Derek Wall currently share the role of principal speaker, as party rules say there must be one man and one woman in the job.
Mr Wall did not back the reform plan.
'Loose cannon'
He is a prominent member of the Green Empowerment Campaign, which has outlined 10 "good reasons" to avoid having one person in charge.
Among its criticisms is that a single leader "would have no constitutional powers so would have little respect from those inside or outside the party who expect a leader in the conventional sense of the word".
"Electing the 'wrong' leader could be a disaster," the campaign said.
"For instance, someone with no charisma, a loose cannon, out of line with policy, inflexible, reinforcing stereotypes, having their own agenda, or worse," it added.
While environmental issues have been prominent recently in the policies of most political parties, the Greens have yet to make a breakthrough at Westminster.
There was an increase in councillors in local elections in May, but at the same time the Green Party in Scotland lost parliamentary seats at Holyrood.There was an increase in councillors in local elections in May, but at the same time the Green Party in Scotland lost parliamentary seats at Holyrood.
Rival arguments
Changing over to a single leader would help to strengthen "democracy, participation and effectiveness" within a political party "uniquely placed to make a difference", according to Dr Lucas.
"Leadership is the inspiring, organising, motivating force that makes sure good ideas actually get put into practice," she wrote on the website of a campaign which has branded itself Yes to Green Leadership.
"If we as Greens do not realise our potential, and soon, we will not just be letting ourselves down; we will be selling-short our planet and everything on it."
However, Mr Wall has become a prominent member of the Green Empowerment Campaign, which has outlined 10 "good reasons" to avoid having one person in charge.
Among its criticisms was that a single leader "would have no constitutional powers so would have little respect from those inside or outside the party who expect a leader in the conventional sense of the word".
"Electing the 'wrong' leader could be a disaster," it added. "For instance, someone with no charisma, a loose cannon, out of line with policy, inflexible, reinforcing stereotypes, having their own agenda, or worse."