THE LEADING candidate for the leadership of the Green Party has said her party is more important than it has ever been.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas has thrown her hat into the ring for the leadership post, for which voting opened on Monday, on a job-share ticket with work and pensions spokesman Jonathan Bartley.

She told the Argus: “With politics fracturing, and the older parties in turmoil, I’ve no doubt the Green Party is more important than ever.

“When voting for the Green Party people know what they’re getting – whether that’s support for keeping public services in public hands, real environmental protection or a commitment to a more representative democracy.

“While other parties wage internal wars we’re going to be getting on and holding the Government to account on the issues that matter.”

The Green party has two-year fixed terms for leaders and incumbent Natalie Bennett has said she will not run again.

Ms Lucas previously led the party before stepping down in 2012 to focus on being the party’s only representative in Westminster after being elected in Brighton Pavilion in 2010 .

Her joint ticket with Mr Bartley is the overwhelming favourite for victory but Ms Lucas said they were “not taking anything for granted”.

Other candidates in the running include Simon Cross, David Malone, Martie Warin and David Williams.

When Ms Lucas announced her candidacy in May she said that splitting the role would allow her to do it alongside constituency responsibilities .

She said: “Because of the responsibilities I still have as a constituency MP and a voice at Westminster, taking on the job of leader on my own was not something that would sit well with that – so it was fantastic to have the conversation with Jonathan.”

Ms Lucas said yesterday that “constant communication” would be the key to the split role, adding that she and Mr Bartley shared a vision for the party.

The long-time campaigner for a “progressive alliance” of left-of-centre parties said it was too early to rule out fielding Green candidates in Hove - against Labour MP Peter Kyle with whom Ms Lucas has worked closely on constituency matters - or in Kemptown where Conservative Simon Kirby beat his Labour rival by fewer than 1,000 votes, with 3,100 going to the Greens.

The leadership election outcome will be announced at conference in Birmingham on September 2.