Greens name runners for Caroline Lucas Brighton Pavilion seat

Sian Berry, Emily O’Brien and Dan Rue will be standing for nomination for the next general election.

The trio will now be voted on by members of the Brighton and Hove Green Party in a ballot taking place this month.

Sian Berry

Sian Berry (Image: Green Party)

Ms Berry had previously announced that she would be running for the candidacy having previously been the leader of the Green Party and a London mayoral candidate in 2021.

She said: “The question of how we collectively build upon the tremendous and inspiring record of Caroline Lucas in Parliament comes at a crucial moment for the Greens and I know we all work together to meet this challenge.”

Ms Berry led the party for three years until 2021 and previously ran for Parliament in 2005 and 2017 in constituencies in the capital.

Emily O'Brien

Emily O'Brien (Image: Green Party)

Emily O’Brien has also been announced for the race despite already holding the parliamentary candidacy for the Green Party in Lewes.

Ms O’Brien, a senior councillor in Lewes, has 20 years of experience working in the community and voluntary sector tackling food poverty.

Daniel Rue

Daniel Rue (Image: Green Party)

Also announced as a runner for Ms Lucas’s seat is Dan Rue, who most recently ran in the Brighton and Hove local elections in May.

Mr Rue ran in the Patcham and Hollingbury ward where he was pipped by now Conservative council leader Alistair McNair and Anne Meadows.

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Zoe John, deputy chairwoman of Brighton and Hove Green Party, said: “This is a fantastic line up of quality candidates. It offers Green Party members a real choice as to who will build on the foundations laid by Caroline Lucas as the first Green MP for Brighton Pavilion.

“Brighton and Hove, like the rest of the country, is facing an unprecedented climate and cost-of-living crisis driven by increasing inequalities and a broken political system.

“This is going to be an exciting contest where each of these candidates is going to put forward a positive case to Brighton and Hove Green Party members about the difference they would make as their next Member of Parliament.”

The race comes after Ms Lucas announced she would be stepping down at the next general election after 13 years in the role.

Brighton Pavilion was the first Green parliamentary seat in the House of Commons and is still the only one in the UK.

Despite gains nationally in the local elections, the Green Party was ousted as the biggest party in Brighton and Hove City Council in favour of a Labour administration.

Ms Berry, Ms O’Brien and Mr Rue will now face a vote from party members between July 3 and July 19. The winner will be put forward as the Green Party candidate for the seat.