Caroline Lucas 'proud of achievements' as Green Party leader

4:20pm Friday 7th September 2012 in News By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas steps down as Green Party leader to focus on her constituency Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas steps down as Green Party leader to focus on her constituency

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said at the party’s annual conference today that the greatest achievement of her time as party leader was seeing the dawn of the country’s first Green council .

Dr Lucas gave a speech handing over the reins of the party to new leader Natalie Bennett, saying she now intends to focus on “the great responsibility and huge honour of representing the people of Brighton Pavilion”.

In her speech Dr Lucas said: “It has been a huge privilege to have held the position of Green Party leader for the past four years.

“In that time, we’ve really grown as a party – doubling our membership, founding new local parties and gaining more councillors to represent more communities than ever before.

“But perhaps the greatest change – the sign of a coming of age – has been to take control of Brighton and Hove City Council.

“This wasn’t about a protest or a niche vote. It was about a whole community trusting the Greens to look after the schools where they send their children, to provide meals on wheels, and to help create much needed local jobs.

“The other political parties want people to believe that lies and betrayal are just the way that politics has to be. But more and more people prefer the Greens’ optimism and our honesty to the dirty world of traditional politics.”

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat is also due to give a speech during the conference in Bristol tomorrow (September 8).

Dr Lucas will also give a talk on the future of the NHS alongside a former NHS doctor who resigned in protest against recent reforms. This will take place on Sunday.

In a report to the conference the Green Party’s external communications coordinator’s Penny Kemp will complain that Brighton and Hove’s political opposition have been “making mischief”.

Comments(18)

chrisinbrighton says...
4:41pm Fri 7 Sep 12

What achievements ?

Report this post »

NickBrt says...
5:57pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Greens only got in because students who don't care what rate of council tax gets set voted for them. They all put the green posters in student lets in Hanover yet they never recycle, they leave rubbish everywhere and horror of horrors to Lucas, some even shop at Tesco.

Report this post »

ruberducker says...
6:11pm Fri 7 Sep 12

"spending our taxes"priority to bike lanes causing an increase in traffic,which has a detremental effect to the local economy,due to congestion.a hike in parking charges-driving tourist away,and conrtavening there own policy on carbon emmisions:cars produce more when sat still,then on the move and busses ten times more"well done the greens"

Report this post »

Roundbill says...
6:14pm Fri 7 Sep 12

"This wasn’t about a protest or a niche vote." An interesting opinion: let's see whether the result of the next election supports or refutes it, shall we?

Report this post »

george smith says...
6:30pm Fri 7 Sep 12

I found their disinterest in the felling of the trees in Wild park an early eye opener, it seemed to be all about funding and paying vast amounts of money to rent sheep, no interest in ordinary residents

Report this post »

JumboJimbo says...
6:42pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Unfortunately the Greens are no longer the party for what people consider Green issues.. The way they have dealt with the allotments has shown that.

Report this post »

just Schmoozing says...
8:14pm Fri 7 Sep 12

She looks like Dr Spock! Coincidence that!

Report this post »

fredflintstone1 says...
9:04pm Fri 7 Sep 12

The Greens have little real understanding or appreciation of the city.They've been an abject failure, but at least, in fairness, they've achieved something that no local political party has accomplished before in the city. I'm surprised that Dr Lucas hasn't highlighted it.

It is now impossible to comment on traveller stories here as the result of the Argus having had "discussions with Brighton and Hove City Council". Fact.

So much for free speech! That's now vanished in this city. Why on earth is it anything to do with the Council as to what people post on this website?

Such action reeks of political censorship of the worst kind. This sort of thing never happened under the Tories or Labour. Only the ghastly Greens.

There is no reason whatsoever as to why people should not be able to comment on the state of public parks, playing fields etc. and express their views if they are being prevented from using such facilities, whatever the reason.

Equally, if they are unhappy with the way in which the council protects their rights, (having accepted the responsibility of paying council tax, by the way), then this view should be heard.

The Greens have a duty to face up to their responsibilities to local residents - rather than seeking to curtail criticism, which is exactly what the ban on commenting achieves for them.

This censorship simply serves to confirm the Greens as a new totalitarian political party, with no regard for the views of the electorate.

Report this post »

just Schmoozing says...
9:41pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Clean up the litter and rubbish all over the city - why the hell do we pay council tax? Lewes Road is litter and rubbish city - you call yourselves green - is that a joke? £14000 a year council tax for one household - is this what you call service? Sort this city out now - after all we pay for it!!!

Report this post »

just Schmoozing says...
9:43pm Fri 7 Sep 12

just Schmoozing wrote:
Clean up the litter and rubbish all over the city - why the hell do we pay council tax? Lewes Road is litter and rubbish city - you call yourselves green - is that a joke? £14000 a year council tax for one household - is this what you call service? Sort this city out now - after all we pay for it!!!
*£1400

Report this post »

Reality50 says...
11:36pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Greens only get anywhere as they exploit the gay and student vote and the general tree hugging element.Is Lucas proud of her support for the criminal infested UAF?

Report this post »

Joshiman says...
8:54am Sat 8 Sep 12

The Greens have made a mess of Brighton.Car driver hating,activists/dem
onstrators/traveller loving party,please take your councillors and policies somewhere else.Students ,you canvassed voted for you as joke and It backfired.

Report this post »

Justin says...
10:09am Sat 8 Sep 12

It seems hypocritical to me for a Green MP to live in Brussels and commute to her constituency and the House of Commons. Her carbon footprint will be 20 times that of the average voter!

Report this post »

gusset snatcher says...
1:28pm Sat 8 Sep 12

The worst thing about the greens is they seem to invite reasonable debate, particularly Jason Kitcat, then carry on going ahead with what they've already decided. He knows the community doesn't want their parks and open spaces continually ruined by 'travellers' and then tries to make out he's on our side by getting them turfed off carden park by stating to have caught them breaking in there, and saying they were only moved on because there was space for them at the official site in horsdean, giving him and the greens justification in extending that site totally against the wishes of the community. They are planning on permanent pitches at that site because they have a government grant. How's that then? I thought travellers were supposed to travel, if they want a permanent home why don't the council allocate or even build them proper homes with proper facilities that are integrated into the community, where taxpayers don't have to pay for children being taxied to school from horsdean, which is cut off from the town by the a27.At the same time the greens are removing more cost effective bus services for children that live in the connurbation........
.... .... you also can't say anything about it because that means you're discriminating

Report this post »

Leon says...
12:19am Sun 9 Sep 12

See you later Lucas. Don't think the Greens will be in much longer so tell your mate not to get too comfortable

Report this post »

F in L says...
12:33am Sun 9 Sep 12

Pebble clutching nutter

Report this post »

NickBrt says...
11:50am Sun 9 Sep 12

Just before the next general election what's the betting she will step down in favour of Jason Kitekat, citing being too tired with the travel to and from her 'home'. Although no doubt HJarrs on here will rush to her aid as usual.

Report this post »

gusset snatcher says...
12:53pm Sun 9 Sep 12

The greens are reducing the bus subsidy so that parents have to pay an extra £8 a week per pupil for bus fares....
presumably this will then subsidise the children being taxied to school from the traveller site at Horsdean

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree