THE country’s only Green MP has distanced herself from returning as her party’s leader after Natalie Bennett’s shock resignation.

Caroline Lucas told The Argus the Green Party leadership has not been in her thinking ahead of the surprise announcement that Ms Bennett would not stand for a third two-year term this summer.

The Australian former journalist took over the party leadership from Ms Lucas in 2012 after the Brighton Pavilion MP decided to focus her energies on her constituency and allow other Greens to come to national prominence.

As the best-known Green politician in the country, Ms Lucas is being strongly tipped to return to the role especially since another prominent Green and London mayoral candidate Sian Berry announced yesterday she would not run.

Ms Lucas’s team did not explicitly rule out her return as leader when quizzed by The Argus yesterday, but said that 100 per cent of her focus was currently on her constituents and the EU referendum debate.

She praised the outgoing leader for “standing up for the voiceless” in her four year stint in the role and hailed an increase in party membership, councillors and MEPs under her leadership.

Despite those successes, the party failed to add to its one parliamentary seat, despite an increased media presence during last year’s election campaign which was notable for a number of poor media performances from Ms Bennett.

Most famously she apologised for having “brain fade” following a stuttering performance when interviewed by LBC radio.

A spokesman for the Green MP said: “Caroline is 100 per cent focussed on representing her constituents and campaigning for Britain to remain part of the EU.

“This announcement was sudden - and leadership is not something Caroline has been thinking about.”

Ms Lucas added: “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 higher vote shares than before.

“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.”

Nominees have the whole of June to put their names forward for the role with balloting running for one month from July 24.

The new leader is likely to be announced at the party's autumn conference in September.