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Caroline Lucas will not be seeking re-election in September
Posted: 14 May 2012, 07:50
by Aurora
BBC News - 13/05/12
Green Party leader Caroline Lucas says she will not be seeking re-election when her second term ends in September.
She announced on Sunday that she will continue as MP for Brighton Pavilion, and hopes to "dedicate even more of my work to the political front line".
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The Independent - 14/05/12
Green Party leader steps aside to aid fight against Lib Dems
Caroline Lucas will hand over top job as part of strategy to boost her colleagues' profiles.
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Posted: 14 May 2012, 10:03
by UndercoverElephant
May be a clever move to avoid losing next time because of massive boundary changes.
Posted: 14 May 2012, 13:27
by tattercoats
May be a clever move, equally, to give someone else the profile - not to mention allow her to concentrate on what she's already doing as an MP without running the party as well. Which reminds me I must chase up joining it...
Posted: 15 May 2012, 12:22
by emordnilap
UndercoverElephant wrote:May be a clever move to avoid losing next time because of massive boundary changes.
?
Don't understand. How do boundary changes affect her decision?
Posted: 15 May 2012, 12:45
by biffvernon
Caroline sets out the reasons here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... down-green
It's quite simple.
Posted: 15 May 2012, 12:48
by emordnilap
I thought so too, but I'm mystified about the boundary change angle.
Posted: 15 May 2012, 13:45
by UndercoverElephant
emordnilap wrote:UndercoverElephant wrote:May be a clever move to avoid losing next time because of massive boundary changes.
?
Don't understand. How do boundary changes affect her decision?
Her seat is effectively disappearing. There will still be a constituency called "Brighton Pavilion", but its not going to be the same constituency. The vote in Brighton is not evenly distributed. The Greens depend partly on the hippy/liberal long-term community, and partly on the universities/students. Both the universities are moving consituencies, and half the students will go with them. They will be replaced by tory voters from Hove.
Posted: 15 May 2012, 20:51
by mobbsey
An inspired move. By allowing others in the party to step forward and promote a broader image they can hopefully move their media profile from primarily invisible towards merely transparent.
Posted: 15 May 2012, 23:57
by JavaScriptDonkey
That article is full of non-reasons.
I suspect the UCE is bang on the money, Lucas doesn't want to be leader if/when she loses her seat in 2015. If she stands down now it'll give which ever unknown gets the job at least some time to develop a public persona.