Caroline Lucas reflects on historic Brighton win in 2010

She became the Green Party’s first MP after hbeing voted in to represent Brighton Pavilion 13 years ago.

After announcing she will stand down at the next general election, in an exclusive interview with The Argus Caroline looked back at the historic campaign that saw her make political history.

She said: “It was an extraordinary campaign and it started years before. 

“The Greens had been building up their number of councillors for many, many years. Pete West was the very first one in 1996 and after that, Keith Taylor did a fantastic job in terms of really bringing the vote much higher when he stood in 2001 and 2005.”

Caroline, who had been elected as an MEP for South East England in 1999, was then selected as the candidate for Brighton Pavilion in 2007 and the effort to elect Britain’s first Green MP began in earnest.

She said: “What was so wonderful was we had the sense that the whole party was prioritising this seat and the sense of getting over the line was the result of so much work by so many people over the years.”

Caroline Lucas with Keith Taylor, right, after her 2010 election victory (Image: Simon Dack)

Caroline said that many were prepared to put their trust in the Green Party for the first time at a general election and that her election was a “collective achievement”.

Speaking to The Argus following her victory in 2010, she said: “The emphatic support of the people of Brighton Pavilion has shown that they are prepared to put their trust in the Greens.

“I feel humbled by their trust in me and am looking forward to the challenging task of representing the people of Brighton Pavilion as their MP.”

More than a decade on, Caroline said: “I joined the party back in 1986 so it was a long time coming, but it was the most wonderful feeling of the faith that people were putting in a new political party.

“We went to people at a different time, with the MPs expenses scandal. The fact that people put their faith in a new political party was just so exciting. This political party which had been around for a while was now taking its rightful seat in Parliament.”

Caroline Lucas celebrating after her 2010 election victory (Image: Chris Ison/PA Wire)

Describing the moment she stood on the stage as she was proclaimed the winner, Caroline said: “It was the moment of just enormous pressure, excitement and exhaustion - there was a lot of exhaustion.

“I was just focused looking out into all of the faces of Green campaigners who have been part of this journey and genuinely feeling that it was a collective achievement.

“So many people had put so much into this seat for so many years.

“My husband and kids were there and it was so moving.”

Some 13 years on from her election, the party has seen a surge in its number of councillors across the country, from 122 in 2010 to more than 700 today. In particular, the local elections in May saw the party gain 241 council seats nationwide, though the Greens lost 13 seats in Brighton and Hove.

Caroline said: “These are great achievements but they have been a long time coming. The party is doing spectacularly well now and the last local elections were a wonderful breakthrough for us across the country.”

Green Party activists celebrate after Caroline Lucas elected first Green MP in 2010 (Image: Simon Dack)

Last month, Caroline announced she would step down as the MP for Brighton Pavilion at the next general election. Sian Berry, the former co-leader of the Green Party, has been selected by members to contest the seat with the hope of keeping it Green.

Caroline said: “I have been very overwhelmed by the incredibly kind and positive response that I have had from people right across the political spectrum, including from people that I know perfectly well don’t share my political beliefs but nonetheless have been incredibly kind.

“They say that they think I have made a real difference in Parliament and that to me is the biggest tribute that anyone could make.”

Caroline thanked the “thousands” of constituents who have sent messages to her since she announced her plans to stand down, including some of the 18,000 people she has assisted through casework since she first became an MP.

In a letter to residents published last month, she said it had “been the privilege of my life to serve this extraordinary constituency and community”.

She said: “When I think back over the past 13 years, my strongest emotion is deep gratitude.

“I love this city and its people and I know how incredibly blessed I’ve been to have been given the opportunity to represent you and to work alongside you.

“On election night 2010 I pledged that I would do my very best to do you proud. I can only hope that - whether you voted for me or not - you will judge that that is what I have done.”