Caroline Lucas, the Inexperienced social gathering’s first and solely MP, has introduced that she’s going to stand down on the subsequent common election.
Ms Lucas, who has represented Brighton Pavilion since 2010, stated it had been the “privilege of my life to serve this extraordinary constituency and group”.
In a letter despatched to her Brighton Pavilion constituents, Ms Lucas stated the “threats to our treasured planet” had grow to be “ever extra pressing”, however that her function in parliament because the Inexperienced Social gathering’s solely MP meant she was “sarcastically” unable to commit extra consideration to “accelerating crises” dealing with local weather and nature.
“I’ve subsequently determined to not stand once more as your MP on the subsequent election”, she stated.
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Ms Lucas served as Inexperienced social gathering chief between 2008 and 2012 earlier than returning as co-leader with Jonathan Bartley for 2 years from September 2016.
She joins a rising band of senior elected politicians who’ve declared that they may step down on the subsequent election.
Ms Lucas efficiently stood for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion on the 2010 Basic Election with a majority of 1,252, changing into the Inexperienced social gathering’s first ever MP. She has elevated that majority at each subsequent election and in 2019 it stood at 19,940.
Lucas has gained many awards for her work as an MP. She was named the Most Influential MP in 2012 by the Political Research Affiliation and “Newcomer of the Yr” within the Spectator’s 2010 Parliamentarian awards.
In her 13 years in Parliament, Ms Lucas, 62, stated her achievements included placing points reminiscent of a common primary earnings and a authorized proper to entry nature on the political agenda, in addition to introducing a Pure Historical past GCSE on the varsity syllabus which she stated was “because of my work in Parliament”.
Ms Lucas was an influential member of the “Folks’s Vote” organisation which campaigned for a second referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU. Lucas instructed attendees on the organisation’s launch: “[Brexit is] not inevitable … We’ll do every little thing we are able to in Parliament for a folks’s vote. This difficulty is much too necessary to depart to the politicians”.
She has additionally campaigned for parliamentary reform and has been a outstanding campaigner for animal rights.
In a letter to constituents, obtained by The Argus newspaper, Ms Lucas stated she was trying ahead to having extra time to discover methods to make a “habitable future a actuality.”
She wrote: “I like this metropolis and its folks, and I understand how extremely blessed I’ve been to have been given the chance to symbolize you, and to work alongside you.
“I’ve at all times prided myself on being, initially, a great constituency MP. I’ve executed every little thing attainable to assist wherever I can and at all times labored to make sure that folks really feel heard, that their issues matter, and that they don’t seem to be alone.
“However the depth of those constituency commitments, along with the actual duties of being my social gathering’s sole MP, imply that, sarcastically, I’ve not been capable of focus as a lot as I would really like on the existential challenges that drive me – the character and local weather emergencies.
“The reality is, as these threats to our treasured planet grow to be ever extra pressing, I’ve struggled to spend the time I would like on these accelerating crises.
“I’ve subsequently determined to not stand once more as your MP on the subsequent election.”
The deadline for the following election to be held is January 28, 2025, with prime minister Rishi Sunak extensively anticipated to set off a ballot someday in autumn 2024.
