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Greens' Caroline Lucas backs Siân Berry to stand again for London mayor Greens' Caroline Lucas backs Siân Berry to stand again for London mayor
(34 minutes later)
Caroline Lucas, the Green party’s sole MP, has thrown her weight behind Siân Berry to be the party’s candidate in next year’s London mayoral race.Caroline Lucas, the Green party’s sole MP, has thrown her weight behind Siân Berry to be the party’s candidate in next year’s London mayoral race.
The party’s leader, Natalie Bennett, has yet to declare whether she is interested in the nomination. Two others have put their names forward: Caroline Russell, an Islington councillor, and Tom Chance, the party’s housing spokesman, who is backed by the London Assembly member and 2012 mayoral candidate Jenny Jones. The party’s leader, Natalie Bennett, has yet to declare whether she is interested in the nomination. Two others have put their names forward: Caroline Russell, an Islington councillor, and Tom Chance, the party’s housing spokesman, who is backed by the London assembly member and 2012 mayoral candidate Jenny Jones.
Berry, a Camden councillor who stood as the Green candidate for mayor in 2008, has identified air pollution and housing as campaign priorities and said she believes that the party could learn from the way leftwing coalitions in Spain made breakthoughs in mayoral elections, including winning in Barcelona. Berry, a Camden councillor who stood as the Green candidate for mayor in 2008, has identified air pollution and housing as campaign priorities and said she believed that the party could learn from the way leftwing coalitions in Spain made breakthroughs in mayoral elections, including winning in Barcelona.
“I think that we need to mobilise around the same way as they have done so in Barcelona and Madrid. We should be approaching the election in coalition with others who are fighting in campaigns for social justice,” she has said. “I think that we need to mobilise around the same way as they have done so in Barcelona and Madrid. We should be approaching the election in coalition with others who are fighting in campaigns for social justice,” she said.
In her endorsement, Lucas said: “Berry has all the qualities and experience to make a really effective London mayoral candidate for the Greens.”In her endorsement, Lucas said: “Berry has all the qualities and experience to make a really effective London mayoral candidate for the Greens.”
The deadline for Green contenders to declare is 29 June.The deadline for Green contenders to declare is 29 June.
The party failed to win any additional MPs in last month’s general election despite increasing its share of the national vote. Bennett, who was re-elected unopposed by members nine months ago to serve a two-year term as leader, came a distant third in the inner London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, behind Labour and the Conservatives.The party failed to win any additional MPs in last month’s general election despite increasing its share of the national vote. Bennett, who was re-elected unopposed by members nine months ago to serve a two-year term as leader, came a distant third in the inner London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, behind Labour and the Conservatives.
Dismissing some claims that she lacked the leadership qualities to carry on building support for the party, Bennett has made it clear that she is determined to remain at the helm to continue building on a “Green surge”.Dismissing some claims that she lacked the leadership qualities to carry on building support for the party, Bennett has made it clear that she is determined to remain at the helm to continue building on a “Green surge”.