The Green Party has a new leader after MP Caroline Lucas announced she will not be running for re-election.
Natalie Bennett will be the new party leader, with Will Duckworth her deputy. Bennett, 46, came to green politics after a career in journalism, working in her native Australia and then for the Bangkok Post, before becoming a United Nations advisor and eventually Green party member.
Her appointment has been positively received: she is seen as ambitious and fought a tough campaign, combining ecological and social issues with statements of intent such as: “We need to move away from a system where we use the planet as a mine and a dumping ground while treating the poorest as rubbish.”
Bennett wants to establish a Green councillor in every town within a decade, and has laid out her plan for her first 100 days in office, in which she will visit the main Green strongholds and organize strategy summits and breakfast meetings with local organisations.
Although the Green party leader has little formal power, Bennett clearly sees her role as unifier and communicator for the Green agenda.
Duckworth has been described in the Guardian as “a true working class Black Country lad” - as if he might play a part in showing Greenism is for everybody, not just for the middle classes.
Bennett also wants to capitalise on voter disillusionment, saying, “It’s obvious many Lib Dem voters are desperate for a home,” but acknowledges: “the reality is in many parts of the country there aren’t enough Lib Dem voters to get elected on the back of.”
From a solar perspective it is unclear what these appointments will mean; it is unlikely that Bennett or Duckworth will have any sway over current government policy, but they are in the position to lobby government for future policy.
Natalie Bennett and Will Duckworth will want to accelerate Green momentum and carry its messages of efficiency and holism into more mainstream political debates.
Speaking to Business Green. Bennett said her new role was not far off being a “glorified press officer,” explaining, “We already have great policies, not just on the economy but also education, transport, health and farming*, but we haven’t done nearly a good enough job of selling them.”
The Eco Experts hope the renewable energy market will benefit from a stronger Green voice. Our fingers are crossed.
(*Natalie Bennett has previously declared herself the “only party leader who can shear a sheep”...)
