2020 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election

The leadership election for the Green Party of England and Wales will take place in summer 2020. It is held routinely every two years. The 2020 election is the seventh since the party decided to have a leader (or two co-leaders) and a deputy leader (or two co-deputy leaders).

2020 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election

3 – 31 August 2020

Candidate(s) Shahrar Ali Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry (job share) Rosemary Sexton

Incumbent Leader(s) Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry (job share)

2020 Green Party of England and Wales Deputy leadership election

3 – 31 August 2020

Candidate Andrea Carey Fuller Nick Humberstone Cleo Lake   Candidate Tom Pashby Amelia Womack

Incumbent Deputy Leader(s) Amelia Womack

Background

The Green Party elects its leader (or two joint leaders), deputy leader (or two co-deputies) and seven other senior positions every two years.[1] The rules are that co-leaders will have one deputy, but if there is a single leader elected, they will have two deputies. The election process is also subject to balancing for gender: if there are two co-leaders, they must be of different genders, and if there are two co-deputy leaders, they must also be of different genders.[2][3]

Incumbent co-leaders Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley announced on 8 June that they would run for re-election, in a job share.[4] Incumbent deputy leader Amelia Womack announced on 17 June that she would also run for re-election.[5] Other candidates contested each of the elections.

Campaign

On 10 June Nick Humberstone announced that he would be standing for the deputy leadership.[6]

On 26 June former Lord Mayor of Bristol Cleo Lake announced that she would be standing for the deputy leadership, saying she wanted to "inspire other activists" to enter politics.[7]

On 28 June Solihull councillor Rosi Sexton announced that she would be standing for the leadership, standing on a campaign platform of "sharpening the party’s electoral strategy, formulating evidenced based policy and making the party more inclusive".[8]

On 29 June writer, campaigner, and Green general election candidate Tom Pashby announced that they would be standing for the deputy leadership.[9]

On 30 June, former Green Party deputy leader Shahrar Ali announced his intention to stand.[10]

On 1 July, Andrea Carey Fuller announced that she would be standing for the deputy leadership on a platform of "improving democracy and equality issues" in the party.[11]

Timeline

June

• 1 June: Nominations open at 10am[2]
• 8 June: Incumbent co-leaders Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry announce their candidacy[4]
• 10 June: Nick Humberstone announces his candidacy for the deputy leadership[6]
• 17 June: Incumbent deputy leader Amelia Womack announces her intention to stand again for the deputy leadership[5]
• 26 June: Cleo Lake announces her candidacy for the deputy leadership[7]
• 28 June: Rosemary Sexton announces her candidacy for the leadership[8]
• 29 June: Tom Pashby announces their candidacy for the deputy leadership[9]
• 30 June:

• Shahrar Ali announces his candidacy for the leadership[10]
• Nominations close at 12pm[2]

July

• 1 July: Andrea Carey Fuller announces her candidacy for the deputy leadership[11]

August

• 3 August: Online voting opens at 10am[2]
• 31 August: Online voting closes at 10pm[2]

The date for the results to be announced is currently to be confirmed.

Leadership candidates

Announced

Candidate(s)[12]			Most recent position(s)	Announced
	Shahrar Ali		Deputy leader between 2014 and 2016 Green Party Home Affairs Spokesperson[13]	30 June[10]
	Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry (job share)		Bartley[14] Green Party Co-Leader since 2016 Leader of the opposition on Lambeth council since May 2018 Berry[14] Green Party Co-Leader since 2018 London mayoral candidate in the upcoming 2021 election[15] and former candidate in 2008 and 2016 A London Assembly member London Assembly group leader from 2016 to 2018 Camden councillor (for Highgate ward) since 2014 Green Party Principal Speaker between 2006 and 2007	8 June[4]
	Rosemary Sexton		Solihull councillor (for the Shirley West ward) since 2019[16] 2019 Parliamentary candidate for Solihull[17]	28 June[8]

Declined

• Alex Phillips, former MEP for South East England[18]
• Magid Magid, former MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber[19]

Deputy leadership candidates

Announced

Candidate[12]			Most recent position(s)	Announced
	Andrea Carey Fuller		• 2019 Parliamentary candidate for Lewisham Deptford[20]	1 July[11]
	Nick Humberstone		Co-chair of Structures and Procedures Committee for the Young Greens from 2018 to 2020 [21] 2018 Candidate for Clapham Common on Lambeth council[22]	10 June[6]
	Cleo Lake		Lord mayor of Bristol[23] from 2018 to 2019 Bristol councillor for Cotham ward since 2016[24]	26 June[7]
	Tom Pashby		2019 Parliamentary candidate for South West Hertfordshire[25]	29 June[9]
	Amelia Womack		Deputy Leader (2014 to present)[26] Former Green Party Culture, Media, and Sport Spokesperson	17 June[5]

Withdrew

• James Booth,[27] 2017/2019 Parliamentary candidate for Macclesfield[28][29]

Results summary

Leadership

Green Party of England and Wales Leadership election, 2020
Candidate		Votes		%
	Shahrar Ali
	Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry
	Rosemary Sexton
	Re-open Nominations
Turnout

Deputy leadership

Green Party of England and Wales Deputy Leadership election, 2020
Candidate		Votes		%
	Andrea Fuller
	Nick Humberstone
	Cleo Lake
	Tom Pashby
	Amelia Womack
	Re-open Nominations
Turnout

References

1. Walker, Peter (2 July 2020). "Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley face competition for Green party leadership". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2020. The Greens’ incumbent leadership duo of Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley are facing competition from two other candidates to remain in their post, as the party prepares for its two-yearly programme selecting its top officials.
2. "Young Greens Guide to the 2020 Green Party Internal Elections". Young Greens. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
3. Hill, Raphael (24 July 2020). "The Green Party's leadership gender balancing rules aren't fit for purpose". Bright Green. Retrieved 29 July 2020. The Green Party of England and Wales constitution... read[s] that when one leader was elected the following happens: The post of deputy leader will be held as a job share with two individuals of a different gender, noting that gender is self determined... Two members of a different gender may together stand for the office of leader in order to hold the post as a jobshare… In this case a single deputy, the individual who polls the highest vote, regardless of gender, will be elected.
4. Mason, Rowena (8 June 2020). "Green party joint leaders to stand again for their roles". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
5. Jarvis, Chris (17 June 2020). "Amelia Womack seeks fourth term as Green Party deputy leader". Bright Green. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
6. Jarvis, Chris (10 June 2020). "First candidate announced in the Green Party deputy leadership election". Bright Green. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
7. Jarvis, Chris (26 June 2020). "Cleo Lake to stand for Green Party deputy leadership". Bright Green. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
8. Jarvis, Chris (28 June 2020). "Solihull councillor to stand for Green Party leadership". Bright Green. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
9. Jarvis, Chris (29 June 2020). "Fourth contender for Green Party deputy leadership announces". Bright Green. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
10. Jarvis, Chris (30 June 2020). "Shahrar Ali announces Green Party leadership bid". Bright Green. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
11. Jarvis, Chris (1 July 2020). "Fifth candidate for Green Party deputy leader emerges". Bright Green. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
12. "Green Party announces leadership candidates". BBC News. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
13. "Green Party Spokespeople". Green Party of England and Wales. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
14. "Co-leaders: Jonathan Bartley & Siân Berry AM". Green Party of England and Wales. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
15. Francis, Sam. "What are the mayor of London candidates up to now?". BBC News. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
16. "Councillor Dr Rosemary Sexton". Solihull Council. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
17. "Solihull Parliamentary Constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
18. Jarvis, Chris (24 May 2020). "Alex Phillips rules herself out of Green Party leadership election". Bright Green. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
19. Jarvis, Chris (14 June 2020). "Green Party leadership election underway". Bright Green. Retrieved 23 June 2020. other prominent figures such as former MEPs Alex Phillips and Magid Magid have ruled themselves out of the contest
20. "Lewisham Deptford". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
21. "People - Young Greens". Young Greens. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
22. "Election results for Clapham Common". Lambeth Council. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
23. Wilson, Kate. "Cleo Lake elected new Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol Post. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
24. "Councillor Cleo Lake". Bristol Council. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
25. "Hertfordshire South West". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
26. "Deputy Leader: Amelia Womack". Green Party of England and Wales. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
27. "Green Party internal elections candidates announced". Green World. Retrieved 8 August 2020. James Booth (Withdrawn)
28. "Macclesfield". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
29. "Macclesfield". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.