2018 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election
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Turnout | 24.0% (5.8%) | ||||||||||||||||
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The leadership election for the Green Party of England and Wales is held routinely every two years. The 2018 election, which ran from 1 June to 31 August, was the sixth since the party decided to have a leader (or two co-leaders) and a deputy leader. The result was declared on 4 September: Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry were elected as co-leaders and Amelia Womack was re-elected as deputy leader.[1]
Background
The Green Party elects its leader (or joint leaders), deputy leader (or two co-deputies) and seven other senior positions every two years.[2] The rules are that co-leaders will have one deputy, but if there is a single leader elected, they will have two deputies. The election process is also subject to balancing for gender.
Incumbent co-leader Caroline Lucas announced on 30 May 2018 that she would not seek nomination and was therefore standing down.[3] The other incumbent co-leader, Jonathan Bartley, announced on 1 June that he would run for re-election, in a job share with former principal speaker and current London Assembly group leader Siân Berry.[4] Incumbent deputy leader Amelia Womack announced on 7 June that she would also run for re-election.[5] Other candidates contested each of the elections.
Timetable
Nominations opened on 1 June and closed on 29 June. Voting was from 30 June to 31 August.[6][7] Seven hustings were arranged for leadership and deputy leadership candidates[6] – on 14 July in Birmingham, on 21 July in York[8] and Manchester, on 28 July in London, Cambridge and Bristol, and on 4 August in Chepstow. The election result was declared on 4 September.[2]
Leadership candidates
Nominated
Candidate(s)[2] | Most recent position(s) | Endorsements | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Shahrar Ali | Ali was Deputy Leader between 2014 and 2016. | David Malone[9] | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry (job share)[10] |
Bartley has been Green Party Co-Leader since 2016, and Leader of the opposition on Lambeth council since May 2018.
Berry was London mayoral candidate in 2008 and 2016, a London Assembly member and group leader since 2016. She has been a Camden councillor (for Highgate ward) since 2014 and was Green Party Principal Speaker between 2006 and 2007. |
Jonathon Porritt;[11] Caroline Russell;[11] Steven Agnew;[11] Patrick Harvie[11] | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Leslie Rowe | Rowe was parliamentary candidate for Richmond (Yorks) in 2005, 2010 and 2015. |
Rejected application
Tim Young's application was rejected as he had insufficient nominations.[12]
Leadership campaign
Berry said that, if elected, she would continue as a councillor in Highgate and a London Assembly member. Oliver Lewis, a Labour Party councillor for the same ward as Berry, said, "She [Siân] must have known this was coming. They had a leadership website ready to go."[13] Bartley and Berry released a detailed plan for their leadership on their website, promising a renewed focus on non-violent direct action, expanding election training to train the next generation of Green leaders, and to prepare the party for greater electoral success.[14] Berry said that she would not be interested in standing for Parliament, if elected Co-Leader, but would use her increased profile to compete again for the London mayoralty.[15]
On 11 August 2018, The Times reported that on Holocaust Memorial Day, in January 2009, Shahrar Ali had made a speech comparing Israel's treatment of Palestinians to the Holocaust.[16] In an article published on the Left Foot Forward blog, the Campaign Against Antisemitism described his speech as anti-semitic and an "offensive rant".[17] Ali described the accusation as a "gross fabrication", telling the Evening Standard that it was "designed to stifle legitimate criticism of the Israeli government".[18] The Green Party said that its initial handling of reports about Ali's speech in 2009 were inadequate and that it is seeking to revise procedures.[19] The Green Party later clarified that no formal complaint of anti-semitism against Ali had been received.[20]
Deputy leadership candidates
Nominated
Candidate(s)[12] | Most recent position(s) | Endorsements | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Aimee Challenor[21][22]
(withdrew)[a] |
• Equalities (LGBTIQA+) Spokesperson (2016 to 2018)[23] • Publications Co-ordinator, Green Party Executive (2017 to 2018)[23] |
||
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Jonathan Chilvers[26] | • Councillor on Warwickshire County Council (2013 to present)[27] | ||
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Andrew Cooper[28] | • Councillor on Kirklees Council for Newsome ward (1999 to present) • Green Party Energy Spokesperson[29] |
Rupert Read;[30] Caroline Russell[31] | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Rashid Nix[32] | • Parliamentary candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood in 2015 and 2017 | ||
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Amelia Womack[33] | • Deputy Leader (2014 to present)[34] • Green Party Culture, Media, and Sport Spokesperson[35] |
Results summary
Leadership
Green Party of England and Wales Leadership election, 2018 | ||||
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Candidate | Votes | % | ||
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry | 6,329 | 75.5% | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Shahrar Ali | 1,466 | 17.5% | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Leslie Rowe | 495 | 5.9% | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Re-open Nominations | 89 | 1.1% | |
Turnout | 8,379 | 24.0% | ||
Bartley and Berry elected as Co-Leaders |
Deputy leadership
Green Party of England and Wales Deputy Leadership election, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Votes | % | ||
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Amelia Womack | 3,981 | 54.3% | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Andrew Cooper | 1,836 | 25.0% | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Rashid Nix | 1,062 | 14.5% | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Jonathan Chilvers | 438 | 6.0% | |
style="background-color: Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color" | | Re-open Nominations | 18 | 0.3% | |
Turnout | 7,335 | 21.0% | ||
Womack re-elected as Deputy Leader |
Notes
References
- ^ Walker, Peter (4 September 2018). "Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry win Green party leadership race". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Walker, Peter (2 July 2018). "Greens announce candidates for leadership in England and Wales". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ Lucas, Caroline (29 May 2018). "Why I'm not going to stand again to be Green party leader". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "Bartley and Berry run as Green co-leaders". BBC News. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ Womack, Amelia (7 June 2018). "I am excited to officially announce that I will be rerunning as deputy leader in the upcoming @TheGreenParty elections". Twitter. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Green Party Leadership & Executive Elections 2018". Green Party of England and Wales. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Green Party prepares for leadership contest". BBC News. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ Willers, Daniel (22 July 2018). "Green Party leadership hopefuls take part in hustings event in York". The Press (York). Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Malone, David (30 June 2018). "David Malone Endorses. Shahrar Ali for Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales for 2018–2020". Davidmalonegreenpartycandidate.weebly.com. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Berry, Sian (31 May 2018). "Jonathan Bartley & Sian Berry announce plans to stand as Green co-leaders". YouTube. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Who's backing our leadership? – Jonathan Bartley & Sian Berry". www.bartleyberry.green. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- ^ a b Allison-Walsh, John (2 July 2018). "Green Party Internal election candiates {sic} 2018" (PDF). Green Party of England and Wales. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Olsey, Richard (1 June 2018). "Labour councillor attacks Sian Berry over Green Party leadership bid". Camden New Journal. London. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Bartley, Jonathan (23 July 2018). "Why I'm prepared to put my body on the line for Green principles". Left Foot Forward. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ Morris, James (26 August 2018). "Sian Berry: 'Green Party co-leadership can help me beat Sadiq Khan in 2020 mayoral election'". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ Webber, Esther (11 August 2018). "Greens drawn into antisemitism row". The Times. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ Mortimer, Josiah (3 August 2018). "Green Party leadership candidate in antisemitism storm over Gaza video". Left Foot Forward. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ "The Londoner: Anti-Semitism row turns Greens toxic". Evening Standard. London. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ Welch, Ben (6 August 2018). "Green Party admits 'inadequate' response to leadership candidate's anti-Israel speech". The Jewish Chronicle. London. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "Green Party clarification regarding Shahrar Ali and allegations of antisemitism during 2018 leadership elections" (Press release). Green Party of England and Wales. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ Packham, Alfie (6 June 2018). "Aimee Challenor: Yes, I'm trans, but I'm a Green party politician and proud of it'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Walker, Peter (27 August 2018). "Greens rising star quits deputy leader race after father jailed for rape". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Green Party statement: Aimee Challenor stands down in Green Party Deputy Leadership race". Green Party of England and Wales. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ Smith, Adam (26 August 2018). "Green politician pulls out of deputy leadership race over child rapist father". Metro. London. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ Walker, Peter (31 August 2018). "Green party launches inquiry as it suspends Aimee Challenor". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Chilvers, Jonathan (5 June 2018). "I'm standing for deputy leader of the Green @TheGreenParty". Twitter. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Councillor Jonathan Chilvers". Warwickshire County Council. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ Cooper, Andrew (1 June 2018). "OK I'm standing for the Deputy Leadership of @TheGreenParty . I better start getting things moving". Twitter. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Councillor Andrew Cooper". Kirklees Council. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Read, Rupert (1 June 2018). "I'll support u, andy". Twitter. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Andrew Cooper for Deputy Leader – Voting commences!. YouTube. Published 29 July 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ Nix, Rashid (11 June 2018). "ANNOUNCEMENT: Rashid Nix standing 4 Green Party Deputy Leader". Twitter. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- ^ Womack, Amelia (7 June 2018). "I am excited to officially announce that I will be rerunning as deputy leader in the upcoming @TheGreenParty elections". Twitter. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Deputy Leader: Amelia Womack". Green Party of England and Wales. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Green Party Spokespeople". Green Party of England and Wales. Retrieved 7 June 2018.