Caroline Lucas to step down as Green party leader to concentrate on Brighton Pavilion (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Caroline Lucas to step down as Green party leader to concentrate on Brighton Pavilion
1:00am Monday 14th May 2012 in News Exclusive By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Caroline Lucas to step down as Green party leader to concentrate on Brighton Pavilion
The country's first ever Green MP is to step down as leader of the party.
Caroline Lucas made history in May 2010 when she won the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at the general election.
Ms Lucas has now confirmed she will not be seeking re-election for another two-year term as the head of the national party when the current reign ends in September.
She said she would concentrate on her "very demanding" role as MP for Brighton Pavilion.
A party spokesman said it was to "broaden opportunities for the range of talent in the party and to raise the profiles of others aspiring to election".
Dr Lucas, who was the party's first ever leader, said: “I look forward to continuing to do all I can in my very demanding role as the MP for Brighton Pavilion, representing and helping my constituents in Brighton and defending them against the Coalition Government’s disastrous economic policies and its refusal to accept its environmental and social responsibilities.
"I will now also be able to work more on the political frontline, putting the Green case for change in Parliament and in all circles of national political debate."
Reporter Tim Ridgway will be talking to Ms Lucas later today. What would you like him to ask her?
Comments(63)
mimseycal
says...
6:26am Mon 14 May 12
GIVE UP
says...
6:32am Mon 14 May 12
GIVE UP
says...
6:32am Mon 14 May 12
jagiwatch
says...
6:59am Mon 14 May 12
Will's blog
says...
7:10am Mon 14 May 12
Can any one tell us what goes on behind the scenes?
Kate234
says...
7:32am Mon 14 May 12
george smith
says...
7:41am Mon 14 May 12
Will's blog wrote:Yep will it be Duncan or Kitkat, or do they have others of a similar type up and down the country. Where is Amy?
The Green Party is a closed shop. The Argus only prints what it's told to by them. Can any one tell us what goes on behind the scenes?
hogarth123
says...
8:00am Mon 14 May 12
They never will and she should do the decent thing and resign now along with Kitkat and his crazy gang who are wrecking our city
lordenglandofsussex
says...
8:01am Mon 14 May 12
john5001
says...
8:04am Mon 14 May 12
Falhawk66
says...
8:22am Mon 14 May 12
Retired Loon in Brighton
says...
8:36am Mon 14 May 12
People will wear bleach-free loin cloths and run about town in socks and sandals exchanging lentil recipes while trying to raise money to pay the new underpants-tax and laughing at how the silly car was once used in an age when many people had jobs.
The people still in the process of working out a viable plan to save us from ourselves will drive about in £50k battery cars that need replacing every 2 years.
Bicycles will be free because half a billion Chinese and Indian people will have thrown their bikes away once managing to obtain petrol driven cars...sold to them by people in Europe who couldn't afford the tax on them anymore. We'll eventually lease the old cars back at a premium rate once they've all upgraded to 4x4s.
Then we'll buy two-hours of electricity from France (once a week) so that wealthy people can share a warm sponge-bath with each other.
Bicycle lanes (nee roads) will be re-adapted to allow for some cars to be used (but only for council business).
Homeopathic emergency clinics will offer crystal healing and ethically-sourced java lava to people who've gone mad from listening to 24-hour public information messages giving excuses about why the wind-farms didn't produce the expected yield at all and defending other loony decisions.
If this sounds crazy then could you believe that some people are gambling £14million of council money with a private developer for a tower project that couldn't raise that money privately?
Yes, but hang in there and hold your nerves people - the i360 should make it all OK...because the council may eventually be selling concessionary tickets so that people in run-down houses can throw themselves off it.
Charismatic Andrew
says...
8:37am Mon 14 May 12
Juleyanne
says...
9:15am Mon 14 May 12
and cared about our planet, our animals, womens equality and the vulnerable as much as she does!
s&k
says...
9:33am Mon 14 May 12
HJarrs
says...
9:39am Mon 14 May 12
I can't remember any single political figure locally that has come in for anywhere near as much abuse in the Argus. Some people just don't like change from the cosy Lab, Lib, Tory view of the world that has lead the country to its current position. I am sure the abuse will continue in place of reasoned agument as to why they disagree.
I am amazed that Caroline Lucas managed to carry on two major roles for so long. Few of us could have done this, certainly not me. During that time she has been a far better constitency MP than I expected and you are free to look at
http://www.theyworkf
oryou.com/mp/carolin
e_lucas/brighton%2C_
pavilion
To see her voting record in parliament, speeches, questions etc.
Nobody will ever agree with absolutley everything their representatives so or do. However, if you support progressive politics, then I think you will be fairly happy with her record on local, national and international issues. Certainly, she has helped the Green Party to punching way above its weight. Long may she continue to do so.
Fercri Sakes
says...
9:55am Mon 14 May 12
HJarrs wrote:Yes, you get a lot of anti-Green Wash on these message boards trying to drip-drip the Brighton public into thinking she's a shambles. Hopefully Brighton voters are intelligent enough to see through this daily rhetorical moan-up and see the real picture.
17 negative posts submitted over a very short period of time. Hmmm. 17 different identities, posted by perhaps 5 people tops?
I can't remember any single political figure locally that has come in for anywhere near as much abuse in the Argus. Some people just don't like change from the cosy Lab, Lib, Tory view of the world that has lead the country to its current position. I am sure the abuse will continue in place of reasoned agument as to why they disagree.
I am amazed that Caroline Lucas managed to carry on two major roles for so long. Few of us could have done this, certainly not me. During that time she has been a far better constitency MP than I expected and you are free to look at
http://www.theyworkf
oryou.com/mp/carolin
e_lucas/brighton%2C_
pavilion
To see her voting record in parliament, speeches, questions etc.
Nobody will ever agree with absolutley everything their representatives so or do. However, if you support progressive politics, then I think you will be fairly happy with her record on local, national and international issues. Certainly, she has helped the Green Party to punching way above its weight. Long may she continue to do so.
Please keep highlighting facts as they're a ray of sunshine here.
Fercri Sakes
says...
10:02am Mon 14 May 12
Please vote for your Conservative or Liberal Democrat representative at the next election as I'm sure these people know how to run the country.
**Just trying to join in here, so I've laid on some misguided rhetorical guff that I hope the ill-informed will take seriously.
HJarrs
says...
10:07am Mon 14 May 12
Will's blog wrote:This is the most laughable comment so far. Do you actually read the Argus? You could never accuse it of being biased to the Greens! If I was being charitable, I would say it is becoming more populist, if so, this does not serve the local community.
The Green Party is a closed shop. The Argus only prints what it's told to by them.
Can any one tell us what goes on behind the scenes?
turtling.
says...
10:37am Mon 14 May 12
Ballroom Blitz
says...
10:41am Mon 14 May 12
Or am I daydreaming?
chattychatty1
says...
11:18am Mon 14 May 12
I didn't vote Green last time but keep this up and I shall be next time
Kate234
says...
12:03pm Mon 14 May 12
Valerie Paynter
says...
12:27pm Mon 14 May 12
Fercri Sakes wrote:Misguided rhetorical guff indeed. And just in case the ill-informed DO take it seriously, please note the following:
Good riddance I say. Look what's happened to the economy since she's been an MP. Greece looks like it's pulling out of the Euro, public sector workers have not had a pay rise in years, and unemployment is rising. This is what happens when you vote Green! Please vote for your Conservative or Liberal Democrat representative at the next election as I'm sure these people know how to run the country. **Just trying to join in here, so I've laid on some misguided rhetorical guff that I hope the ill-informed will take seriously.
The first thing the local Green Administration did on assuming power last year was to ask senior management to take a pay cut - and CEO John Barradell took a 5% voluntary pay cut - in order to finance an increase in the wages of the lowest paid who work for BHCC.
At Cabinet last week in his last message as Leader to the last Cabinet meeting before a return to the committee system and installation of the new Leader, Jason Kitcat, Cllr Bill Randall indicated that this amounted to something like £20 a week increase for each of them. I just hope they deserve it - I do have my doubts about some council officers and their integrity.
Cash Cow
says...
12:41pm Mon 14 May 12
Retired Loon in Brighton wrote:Very good! An excellent read! Have you ever thought about writing a book?
No comrades. You fail to appreciate a vision of our future.
People will wear bleach-free loin cloths and run about town in socks and sandals exchanging lentil recipes while trying to raise money to pay the new underpants-tax and laughing at how the silly car was once used in an age when many people had jobs.
The people still in the process of working out a viable plan to save us from ourselves will drive about in £50k battery cars that need replacing every 2 years.
Bicycles will be free because half a billion Chinese and Indian people will have thrown their bikes away once managing to obtain petrol driven cars...sold to them by people in Europe who couldn't afford the tax on them anymore. We'll eventually lease the old cars back at a premium rate once they've all upgraded to 4x4s.
Then we'll buy two-hours of electricity from France (once a week) so that wealthy people can share a warm sponge-bath with each other.
Bicycle lanes (nee roads) will be re-adapted to allow for some cars to be used (but only for council business).
Homeopathic emergency clinics will offer crystal healing and ethically-sourced java lava to people who've gone mad from listening to 24-hour public information messages giving excuses about why the wind-farms didn't produce the expected yield at all and defending other loony decisions.
If this sounds crazy then could you believe that some people are gambling £14million of council money with a private developer for a tower project that couldn't raise that money privately?
Yes, but hang in there and hold your nerves people - the i360 should make it all OK...because the council may eventually be selling concessionary tickets so that people in run-down houses can throw themselves off it.
elainedawn
says...
1:34pm Mon 14 May 12
raymondo999
says...
1:52pm Mon 14 May 12
Andy R
says...
2:22pm Mon 14 May 12
HJarrs wrote:I hope you're right. It's kind of a comforting thought that there may not be quite as many fruitloops posting here as I thought.....
17 negative posts submitted over a very short period of time. Hmmm. 17 different identities, posted by perhaps 5 people tops? I can't remember any single political figure locally that has come in for anywhere near as much abuse in the Argus. Some people just don't like change from the cosy Lab, Lib, Tory view of the world that has lead the country to its current position. I am sure the abuse will continue in place of reasoned agument as to why they disagree. I am amazed that Caroline Lucas managed to carry on two major roles for so long. Few of us could have done this, certainly not me. During that time she has been a far better constitency MP than I expected and you are free to look at http://www.theyworkf oryou.com/mp/carolin e_lucas/brighton%2C_ pavilion To see her voting record in parliament, speeches, questions etc. Nobody will ever agree with absolutley everything their representatives so or do. However, if you support progressive politics, then I think you will be fairly happy with her record on local, national and international issues. Certainly, she has helped the Green Party to punching way above its weight. Long may she continue to do so.
Lewesroadresident
says...
2:59pm Mon 14 May 12
Lewesroadresident
says...
3:07pm Mon 14 May 12
Kate234 wrote:They're not anti-jobs or prosperity, don't be ridiculous. They have implemented something which is very unpopular and quite rightly residents are concerned about the impact on businesses. The parking charges are already being reviewed due to the level of protest against them, and I hope the right decision is reached.
I have a question? Why are the Greens so anti-jobs and prosperity for the City. They have imposed a huge tourist/business tax on the city through their excessive car parking charges that have made Brighton nationally visible in the press as a place not to do business. Do they not realise that people in Brighton need jobs and the detrimental effect this policy is already having on businesses?
What short memories people have- when Greens increase parking charges it is a ludicrous ideological marxist attack on the rights of drivers and will destroy the entire town within weeks. When the Tories or Labour increase charges (they went up and down constantly under both previous administrations), it's what exactly?
Andy R
says...
3:08pm Mon 14 May 12
turtling. wrote:What? Presumably you were similarly confused when you heard that she would be holding "surgeries".
When I heard she was a doctor I thought she must have more substance to her than she'd been given credit.... till I found out she earned her phd (becoming a doctor) with a thesis entitled Writing for Women: a study of woman as reader in Elizabethan romance ffs........ really useful in todays political arena
Doh.......
Ballroom Blitz
says...
3:59pm Mon 14 May 12
Lewesroadresident wrote:Neither previous administrations increased the parking charges by such a large percentage in one go - and that is the point.
Kate234 wrote:They're not anti-jobs or prosperity, don't be ridiculous. They have implemented something which is very unpopular and quite rightly residents are concerned about the impact on businesses. The parking charges are already being reviewed due to the level of protest against them, and I hope the right decision is reached.
I have a question? Why are the Greens so anti-jobs and prosperity for the City. They have imposed a huge tourist/business tax on the city through their excessive car parking charges that have made Brighton nationally visible in the press as a place not to do business. Do they not realise that people in Brighton need jobs and the detrimental effect this policy is already having on businesses?
What short memories people have- when Greens increase parking charges it is a ludicrous ideological marxist attack on the rights of drivers and will destroy the entire town within weeks. When the Tories or Labour increase charges (they went up and down constantly under both previous administrations), it's what exactly?
Hard times
says...
4:19pm Mon 14 May 12
Lucas and the Greens have done more than enough to make me deem my vote well placed.
The only thing that I don't like about Lucas is her eyebrows - they creep the hell out of me.
Just asking!
says...
4:51pm Mon 14 May 12
deve
says...
4:55pm Mon 14 May 12
NickBrt
says...
6:33pm Mon 14 May 12
den2il
says...
8:22pm Mon 14 May 12
NickBrt wrote:What! She hasn't got one her bike?
Green party members are having a collection to buy her a satnav so she can at last find her way to her constituency.
Idontbelieveit1948
says...
8:28pm Mon 14 May 12
NickBrt wrote:Don't forget she needs to travel betwen her 5 homes as well !
Green party members are having a collection to buy her a satnav so she can at last find her way to her constituency.
What concerns me is she is intending, according to the headline, to concentrate on Brighton Pavilion. Given Green policies in this city she is presumably going to dismantle it brick by brick and remove yet another tourist attraction !!!
turtling.
says...
11:19pm Mon 14 May 12
Andy R
says...
12:34am Tue 15 May 12
AmboGuy wrote:Belgium? I thought it was Oxford.
Concentrate on Brighton Pavilion? Difficult to do that when you live in Belgium really.
Same tired old **** from the same tired old saddoes.....
hogarth123
says...
4:59am Tue 15 May 12
hogarth123
says...
4:59am Tue 15 May 12
JHunty
says...
6:48am Tue 15 May 12
Andy R wrote:Ah abuse from Andy R, what a suprise. Someone dares to criticise his beloved green communist leader and Andy comes over all white knight, riding to her rescue. Tell me Andy is it true you were part of her bodyguard during the great battle for Brighton when the UAF and SmashEdo bravely took on ten year old facist children?
AmboGuy wrote:Belgium? I thought it was Oxford.
Concentrate on Brighton Pavilion? Difficult to do that when you live in Belgium really.
Same tired old **** from the same tired old saddoes.....
Did you really whisk her off to a safe house in Brussels when the UAF and SmashEdo started throwing bottles and plates at children?
Where does she live Andy? She promised to move to Brighton after being elected, that was two years ago, where does she live Andy in Brighton or in Belgium where here husband and children live?
You are such bezzy mates with her answering that question once and for all should be easy, where does she live Andy?
Perhaps the fact that their leader and her husband live the life of the 1% that the Occupy movement were campaigning against has finally sunk in with Green party members and they can see the contradiction between their leader insisting we all need to take a massive reduction in our standards of living in order to save the planet and bring the first world and third worlds living standards onto the same level, whilst she lives the lifestyle of a multi millionaire. Funny how a communist like yourself Andy adores rich people like Caroline.
Busterblister
says...
7:00am Tue 15 May 12
Andy R
says...
9:02am Tue 15 May 12
JHunty wrote:You? Complaining about abuse?
Andy R wrote:Ah abuse from Andy R, what a suprise. Someone dares to criticise his beloved green communist leader and Andy comes over all white knight, riding to her rescue. Tell me Andy is it true you were part of her bodyguard during the great battle for Brighton when the UAF and SmashEdo bravely took on ten year old facist children? Did you really whisk her off to a safe house in Brussels when the UAF and SmashEdo started throwing bottles and plates at children? Where does she live Andy? She promised to move to Brighton after being elected, that was two years ago, where does she live Andy in Brighton or in Belgium where here husband and children live? You are such bezzy mates with her answering that question once and for all should be easy, where does she live Andy? Perhaps the fact that their leader and her husband live the life of the 1% that the Occupy movement were campaigning against has finally sunk in with Green party members and they can see the contradiction between their leader insisting we all need to take a massive reduction in our standards of living in order to save the planet and bring the first world and third worlds living standards onto the same level, whilst she lives the lifestyle of a multi millionaire. Funny how a communist like yourself Andy adores rich people like Caroline.AmboGuy wrote: Concentrate on Brighton Pavilion? Difficult to do that when you live in Belgium really.Belgium? I thought it was Oxford. Same tired old **** from the same tired old saddoes.....
Hilarious.
And still unquestioningly repeating EDL propaganda about 22 April I see.
Oh....and do remember....comment first THEN booze. Get that the wrong way round and you just end up with the random dribble you posted this morning.
Fercri Sakes
says...
9:33am Tue 15 May 12
Busterblister wrote:It's great that you're backing up this cliche with such strong facts.
The further to the left people represent themselves, the more likely they are to get into the trough as soon as they come into some cash. Lefties are the worst hypocrites when it comes to lifestyle.
turtling.
says...
10:39am Tue 15 May 12
Andy R wrote:Where does she live Andy? is that a little hard for you to answer. Well here goes again....... Where does she live Andy?..... I'll tell you.... Brussels
turtling. wrote:What? Presumably you were similarly confused when you heard that she would be holding "surgeries".
When I heard she was a doctor I thought she must have more substance to her than she'd been given credit.... till I found out she earned her phd (becoming a doctor) with a thesis entitled Writing for Women: a study of woman as reader in Elizabethan romance ffs........ really useful in todays political arena
Doh.......
NickBrt
says...
10:44am Tue 15 May 12
Andy R
says...
12:22pm Tue 15 May 12
NickBrt wrote:Absolute joke. This thread is full of the most incredible ad hominem abuse of an individual, but I'm the one "hurling insults".
Methinks Andy R and the blessed Caroline are one and eth same. Andy would sure make a good politician, never answers questions just hurls insults.
Well fit in the "dishing it out" department but a bit deficient in the "taking it" one, it seems.
Typical
The Baron Pepperpot
says...
2:01pm Tue 15 May 12
turtling. wrote:Caroline Lucas lives in Brighton and has done so for a while now.
Andy R wrote:Where does she live Andy? is that a little hard for you to answer. Well here goes again....... Where does she live Andy?..... I'll tell you.... Brussels
turtling. wrote:What? Presumably you were similarly confused when you heard that she would be holding "surgeries".
When I heard she was a doctor I thought she must have more substance to her than she'd been given credit.... till I found out she earned her phd (becoming a doctor) with a thesis entitled Writing for Women: a study of woman as reader in Elizabethan romance ffs........ really useful in todays political arena
Doh.......
danielsreef
says...
2:34pm Tue 15 May 12
Juleyanne wrote:Well done Juleyanne , this is after all why most if us voted Green along with other issues! Just because they haven`t lined the pockets of all the rich ( Tory) and gave all our tax money away to them who don`t (really) need it(Labour) , they are a fail ? Can`t please all the people all the time . Give them time , can`t do it all at the same time . There`s a recession on don`t you know !`
At least she won support for tougher laws on animal welfare and fairer trade, equality for women but to mention a few. I appreciate her efforts to make Brighton greener did not appeal to all and the cost of parking was a bit extreme, but I wish more politician's had her compassion
and cared about our planet, our animals, womens equality and the vulnerable as much as she does!
mutuality
says...
3:54pm Tue 15 May 12
spurs007
says...
5:27pm Tue 15 May 12
spurs007
says...
5:32pm Tue 15 May 12
Joshiman
says...
5:41pm Tue 15 May 12
Andy R
says...
5:57pm Tue 15 May 12
spurs007 wrote:You haven't read the story properly have you? Now, slowly, what is she's resigned from, and what is it that she's carrying on doing?
This does not surprise me! Waste of space! Head back to Belguim as you have never embraced living in this city! Take the green councillors with you.......
No such thing as "Belguim", by the way
Doh.......
reggie kray
says...
6:55pm Tue 15 May 12
youl still get the blame for what uve done done done .....
ur so far off the mark and we cant afford to park ... theres no tourists in the town coz they cant afford to come .....so run rabbit run rabbit run run run !!
Idontbelieveit1948
says...
8:15pm Tue 15 May 12
mutuality wrote:Are you real ?
What a shame that Caroline has decided to stand down as leader as she was a real figurehead and role model. A very objective, principled, collectively thinking person who works tirelessly as an MP and who has put the Green Party well and truly on the map. Caroline has become a high profile figure in the media and featured regularly in local and national news. As a person she is very charming and friendly and looks at the bigger/wider picture and the adverse effects of government policies and our actions and behaviours on the planet. A real champion of public services along with others I admire like Mark Serwotka, Bob Crow and Benjamin Zephaniah. Sad to see you go but best of luck to her replacement! :)
This is a joke isn't it ?
Joshiman
says...
11:13am Wed 16 May 12
s&k wrote:Definately Boris.She might be affable but her Green policies are making Brighton a city to avoid.Notice all the empty car parking spaces.Ask anyone abroad and they have already heard about this expensive place to visit.
Amazing some of the fruitcake comments here from some genuine loons. She's always seemed quite affable and genuine for a politician to me. Perhaps you prefer Boris or David/Nick who make such a better job ruining - ooops running - our country.
juleshove
says...
1:33pm Wed 16 May 12
jub
says...
2:21pm Wed 16 May 12
fred clause
says...
7:59am Thu 17 May 12
MuammarQaddafi says...
1:39am Mon 14 May 12