9 September 2020
- Green members re-elect Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry as co-leaders
- Amelia Womack elected as deputy leader for fourth term
- Jonathan Bartley: “Only the Greens have a clear, positive vision for what the country could be, and the ambition to build a grassroots mass movement which will demand, and work for, better than what came before”
- Sian Berry: “Next year people will have a chance to bring real change to their area by electing more Green councils, putting Green voices in the Senedd, and electing a Green Mayor for London”
Green members have re-elected Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry as co-leaders of the party following an internal election this summer.
Bartley and Berry have now begun their second term as co-leaders by setting out their vision to build a grassroots mass movement for a Green recovery from the economic, climate and health crises we are currently in.
The pair have also set out how it is only the Green Party that has a “clear, positive vision” for the country and how they are ready to move the party to the next level.
Jonathan Bartley said:
“The economic, climate and health crises have put the country at a crossroads. We can continue down the same old road or we can choose a transformative Green recovery that ensures the wellbeing of us all, now and in the future.
“Only the Greens have a clear, positive vision for what the country could be, and the ambition to build a grassroots mass movement which will demand, and work for, better than what came before.
“We want to thank the members of the Green Party for re-electing us at such a crucial time for our movement and the country. Thank you, too, to all the candidates who put themselves forward and ran powerful campaigns that generated vibrant discussions and new ideas – the lifeblood of a democratic party.”
The pair have set their sights on reproducing last year’s stunning local election results, which saw the party increase its number of councillors from 178 to 362 on 122 councils.
Sian Berry said:
“We’re growing fast. Last year we doubled the number of Green councillors, and the 18 councils where Greens are part of the administration are among the most innovative and exciting in the country. But we can do so much more.
“Next year people will have a chance to bring real change to their area by electing more Green councils, putting Green voices in the Senedd, and electing a Green Mayor for London.
“Green politics is built on grassroots action, co-operation and democratic participation. We believe in a democracy where every voice is heard and politicians’ power comes from an active citizenry, not big-money donors.
“If you want a safe, fair and exciting future for your area, for the country and for the world, we invite you to join the Green Party and help us make the difference. Better is possible, if we build it together.”
Bartley has led the opposition on Lambeth council since being elected a Streatham councillor in 2018. Berry is the Green Party’s candidate for London Mayor and has been a Green London Assembly member since 2016. She has been a Camden councillor since 2014. They were elected by the Green Party membership after an internal election over the summer.
Amelia Womack was elected deputy leader of the party for a fourth time and will continue to campaign to get Greens elected across the country.
Womack, who will be the Green candidate for South Wales East in next year’s Senedd election, said:
“We are building on strong foundations to ensure that we get more Greens elected across the country, and I am proud to be re-elected as deputy leader to continue that work.
“We have proven ourselves to be a political force to be reckoned with, and we will prove that again in the vital elections next year. Delivering real action on the climate and ecological emergency, while working to tackle inequality, our party is the only party that has the message and policy fit for the challenges of the 21st century.”
New co-leaders Bartley and Berry won with 49% of the first preference votes. Contenders Shahrar Ali and Rosi Sexton received 24% and 27% of first preference votes respectively. New deputy leader Amelia Womack won with 47% of the first preference votes.
ENDS
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