Green Party of England and Wales leadership election, 2016

Green Party of England and Wales leadership election, 2016

2016

Leader before election Natalie Bennett Elected Leader TBD

Green Party of England and Wales deputy leadership election, 2016

2016

Deputy Leader before election Amelia Womack Shahrar Ali Elected Deputy Leader TBD

The Green Party of England and Wales leadership election, 2016 will take place in 2016. The party has elections every two years for Leader and Deputy Leader roles and this will be the fifth election since the party decided to switch from having principal speakers to having a leader and a deputy leader, or co-leaders.

Procedure

According to the Constitution of the Green Party (as it stood after the Spring 2012 Conference), the leadership should be "the primary public faces of the party, responsible for presenting Green Party policy and promoting its electoral activity and campaigns to the public on a daily basis." Candidates must have been members of the Green Party for three years or more following the close of nominations, and must have signatures supporting their nomination from a minimum of twenty other party members. Elections are constitutionally mandated to take place every two years by a postal ballot of all members. The Constitution states that nominations for leadership will be open from 10:00 on the first week-day in June until noon on the last week-day in June. Polls will close either after the last mail delivery on the last week-day of August, or five week-days before Autumn Conference starts, whichever is sooner.^[1]

Candidates

As of yet, no one has expressed an interest in standing in either the leadership or deputy leadership elections. This includes the current leader Natalie Bennett, who has has refused to state her intention or lack thereof to run for re-election.^[2]

Leadership candidates

Potential

• Natalie Bennett, Leader of the Green Party (since 2012)
• Amelia Womack, Deputy Leader of the Green Party (since 2014)
• Shahrar Ali, Deputy Leader of the Green Party (since 2014)
• Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion (since 2010), former Leader of the Green Party (2008–2012), former Principle Speaker of the Green Party (2003–2006; 2007–2008), former MEP for South East England (1999–2010)
• Siân Berry, Green Party candidate for Mayor of London in the 2016 and 2008 elections, Councillor on Camden London Borough Council (since 2014), former Principle Speaker of the Green Party (2006–2007)^[3]

Declined

• Jenny Jones, Member of the House of Lords (since 2013), Green Party candidate for Mayor of London in the 2012 election, Member of the London Assembly (since 2000), former Deputy Mayor of London (2003–2004)^[4][5]
• Jonathan Bartley, Green Party London Assembly election, 2016 candidate, Green Party Work and Pensions spokesperson. ^[6]

Deputy leadership candidates

Potential

• Amelia Womack, Deputy Leader of the Green Party (since 2014)
• Shahrar Ali, Deputy Leader of the Green Party (since 2014)

References

1. "Constitution of the Green Party" (PDF). Green Party. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
2. "Green Party leader Natalie Bennett on local elections". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
3. Siân Berry [sianberry] (9 December 2015). "@kristiancarter @nathggns I would never run against Natalie. Any use?" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 April 2016.
4. Jenny Jones [greenjennyjones] (9 March 2016). "Hi. Thanks very much for this, but I won't be standing for Leader! I think that Natalie has done a superb job." (Tweet). Retrieved 4 April 2016.
5. Jenny Jones [greenjennyjones] (26 November 2015). "@nathggns Natalie=excellent leader, if we must have one. Not believing in leaders I won't stand! @AlexCatt1497 @Amelia_Womack @sianberry" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 April 2016.
6. "Jonathan Bartley on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-04-07.