2012 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election

2012 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election
← 2010 1 August 2012 (2012-08-01) – 3 September 2012 (2012-09-03) 2014 →
Turnout3,048 (25.1%)
 
Candidate Natalie Bennett Peter Cranie
First pref. 1,300 (41.8%) 902 (29.0%)
Second round 1,487 (48.8%) 976 (32.0%)
Final round 1,757 (59.3%) 1,204 (40.7)
 
Candidate Romayne Phoenix Pippa Bartolotti
First pref. 429 (15.8%) 389 (12.5)
Second round 585 (19.2%) Eliminated
Final round Eliminated Eliminated
Leader before election

Caroline Lucas

 Elected leader

Natalie Bennett

The 2012 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election took place in September 2012 to select a leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. The party's incumbent leader, Caroline Lucas, chose not to seek re-election. The position was won by the journalist Natalie Bennett.

Background

The Green Party of England and Wales elects its leaders every two years. Caroline Lucas was elected as the party's first leader in 2008 and had been re-elected unopposed in 2010. In May 2012, she announced that she wouldn't seek re-election.[1]

Campaign

The election was contested by Natalie Bennett, a former journalist for The Guardian.[2]

Candidates

Leadership candidates

Candidate Political office

Pippa Bartolotti 		Leader of the Wales Green Party (2012–2016)

Natalie Bennett 		Internal communications coordinator (2007–2011)

Peter Cranie

Romayne Phoenix 		Chair of the Coalition of Resistance

Deputy leadership candidates

Candidate Biography

Caroline Allen 		Islington vet

Will Duckworth 		Dudley councillor

Richard Mallender 		Nottingham councillor
Alexandra Phillips Brighton and Hove councillor

Declined

The incumbent deputy leader, Adrian Ramsay, was widely expected to contest the leadership election. However, he announced that he would not stand in that election, nor for re-election as deputy leader.[3][4]

Campaign

All members of the party were sent ballot papers in the post with their copy of the party's magazine at the beginning of August 2012. Ballots needed to be returned before 31 August 2012.

The result was declared on 3 September 2012. Natalie Bennett was elected leader and Will Duckworth was elected deputy leader.

Result

The results were as follows:

Leader

Candidate First round Second round Third round
Votes % Votes % Votes %
Natalie Bennett 1,300 41.8 1,487 48.8 1,757 59.3
Peter Cranie 902 29.0 976 32.0 1,204 40.7
Romayne Phoenix 429 15.8 585 19.2 Eliminated
Pippa Bartolotti 389 12.5 Eliminated
Re-open nominations 28 0.9 Eliminated

Deputy leader

Under the election rules operating at the time, the deputy leader could not be of the same gender as the leader. Caroline Allen and Alexandra Phillips were thus eliminated and first preference votes cast for them were redistributed to the highest expressed preference for an eligible candidate.[5] No candidate achieved the necessary quota, but the election rules required that "re-open nominations" not be eliminated, so the candidate with the highest vote was elected.

Candidate Votes %
Will Duckworth 1,300 47.9
Richard Mallender 1,245 44.9
Re-open nominations 200 7.2
Caroline Allen Eliminated
Alexandra Phillips Eliminated

Aftermath

Bennett said she wanted to get MPs elected in every region, setting a target of ten seats.[2]

References

  1. ^ McCarthy, Michael (14 May 2012). "Green Party leader Caroline Lucas steps aside to aid fight against Lib Dems". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Green party elects Natalie Bennett as leader". the Guardian. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  3. ^ McGurran, Deborah (5 September 2012). "Green Party deputy leader Adrian Ramsay stands down". BBC News. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Adrian not standing for Green Party leader". Adrian Ramsey. 9 June 2012. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Green Party|Results of leadership election". Green Party. Retrieved 3 September 2012.