Like many others, I will have read this Tweet with a slight twinge of disappointment this morning:
https://twitter.com/CarolineLucas/status/1666675402775883778?s=20
Even the dispassionate and uninterested observer could not dispute that Caroline has been a force for good in parliament. She has also been immensely important for the green movement as a whole.
I am not a dispassionate or uninterested observer. I have known Caroline since about 2006; we have been members of the Green New Deal Group since 2007. We have worked together and co-authored. She is the MP with whom I am in most frequent contact.
As a result, I know that what Caroline has said is true. She has been an incredibly hard-working constituency MP above all else whilst in the Commons. Being a good constituency MP is a massively time-consuming job. Laying on top of that the demands of being the sole Green MP has imposed an extraordinary burden on Caroline. I am not at all surprised that she needs a break from that now.
Parliament and the Greens will lose from this. I am rather hoping the Green New Deal Group gains. We will see. What I will do is wish her all the best for the future.
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Oh dear. Fold up the map and put it way. The lights are going out all over Britain.
She is just head and shoulders above the rest. Hope she can remain in the lead on all things climate – despite BBC censorship etc.
Absolutely agree – a woman of great integrity and courage who has set such a good example of how an MP should conduct themselves. Can only hope that there will be others who will continue her work
One of our better politicians for sure.
And when she goes we get left with the likes of this:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/08/jamie-driscoll-labour-keir-starmer-north-of-tyne-mayor
Navel gazing internal internecine fighting from the party that wants to replace the Tories.
“My hon. Friend is absolutely right and has been a huge champion of this for communities across the country. Most importantly, our regions will not prosper and will not grow unless we can have confidence that decisions are being taken in the right way and in the public interest, and the people of that region need to know that they will benefit from those decisions. That is the point of devolution.”
This was Lisa Nandy yesterday in a debate about Teesside.
Strange how it doesn’t seem to apply to Tyneside and Jamie Driscoll.
I live in North West Durham, my husband was born in Ashington and his grandparents lived in Newbiggin.
Even if Jamie Driscoll had been allowed to stand for labour I would vote for him as would all my family eligible to vote. I hope he stands as an independent.
The people of Durham did not want to be part of the north east mayoralty, but voted for it this time as we would have lost lots of money if we had not.
When some people criticise all MPs, Caroline Lucas is around the top of my list of MPs who refute their case and deserve respect.
This is the Caroline Lucas I really admired:-
https://www.carolinelucas.com/latest/financial-times-mark-carney-boosts-green-investment-hopes
In comparison Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer are financially stuck in the dark ages in terms of understanding the role the state can play in all kinds of ways to help deliver well-being for all and not just on green issues.
I know that matter very well……
Yes I know you do and credit to you. There’s one other thing I think you can say about Caroline Lucas she would never behave as a vile McCarthyite like Keir Starmer!
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/08/jamie-driscoll-labour-keir-starmer-north-of-tyne-mayor
Yes it is sad but the Green Party now looks set from the last local elections to make more impact and progress. Caroline says she can now concenrate on the climate eergency which is the most pressing issue now..
In response to Bill, does it not tell us something that Ms Lucas has LEFT PARLIAMENT in order to try do something about climate warming!!!!!!!
Say no more!!
Reminds me of the late, great Tony Benn when he left parliament saying he was doing so in order to concentrate on politics!
Indeed
Caroline welcomed the comparison when being interviewed on the Today programme this morning
I have her book Honourable Friends? written in 2015.
Naomi Klein said that she was one of the world’s bravest and most principled politicians.
I think I’ll read it again, before she writes her next book, although I have seen that she edited one with Lisa Nandy called The Alternative.
this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alternative-Towards-New-Progressive-Politics/dp/1785900498/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=the+alternative+lucas&qid=1686251590&s=books&sr=1-4
Probably, except I never use or look at Amazon. Is it the same as this one?
https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Caroline-Lucas/Alternative–Towards-a-New-Progressive-Politics/19252330
Free postage with Hive and they give a percentage towards your local bookshop.
Worth making the point that she’s the same sort of age as Richard & I – 62, assuming the next election is Autumn 2024 she would be about 68 by the end of the next parliament so it seems to me to make a lot of sense to go now rather than hang in until ‘age starts to weary you’
I really can’t see Caroline being wearied at 68
Caroline Lucas has fought well for the vital green issues. My first reaction to this news was, “Who’s working with Lewis and Miliband after the next GE?”
But I am also concerned that we don’t forget about her attempted defence if the NHS in 2016. Lucas saw “it” coming, I think, and should be praised for her NHS Bill. Perhaps we should have listened a lot better.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-03-11/debates/16031121000003/NationalHealthServiceBill
It’s very sad but totally understandable news. I don’t see Caroline retiring from public life, but she has certainly earned the right to focus her energies on what she sees as the most pressing issues. Maybe she has made this announcement now to give to time to work with a new local Green candidate to take over? Either way she leaves an amazing legacy and an extremely hard act to follow.
Totally agree about Caroline Lucas, whose steadfastness I’ve long admired. Her voice will still be heard of course, outside the confines of Parliament, where even her strong and insistent questioning and forthright statements have to acknowledge even the weakest of Speakers, the apparent arbiter, of good conduct (how’s that going?!).
When Labour win, I’m hopeful that they and the Green Party can come to understand each other’s priorities, especially important if the Greens maintain a critical friend position.
Having said that, I was somewhat astonished to hear Rachel Reeves statement about a need to delay the Party’s green proposals, a position supported by Ed Milliband in the R4 midday news today.
I understand that the economy is in a mess, in addition to all the stresses and strains of the energy/cost of living crises and the necessary commitment to the Ukraine struggle in Putin’s illegal war and continuing war crimes.
But why was there a need to announce a pause of unknown length? (“halfway through a second term” is hardly informative).
I remain faithful to the Labour cause, but too much unnecessary honesty can seem politically inept.
You obviously have no experience of how much Labour hate the Greens and will do anything to frustrate their policies. I am talking about the party, not certain individuals like Clive Lewis etc. who are less partisan. In my experience Labour try and convince people they are so Green there is no point voting Green, but Labour is basically a capitalist party that puts workers interests first whereas true Green economics does not believe in growth or capitalism.
Caroline will step down from parliament, but we need other true Greens like Carla Denyer to carry on speaking out for social justice and Green issues.
Agreed
Rachel Reeves proved Labour is far from Green today
Racheal Reeves justified her actions very clearly. She is a commanding politician and will go from strength to strength in office.
She offered a pure neoliberal justification.
We cannot afford to save the planet.
Richard, your hatred of the Labour Party is colouring your judgement yet again. You should read what I said more carefully. I expressed a hope that Labour and the Green Party could basically find common ground. I’m a socialist and recognise that Labour needs to win in order to defeat the far right. That’s a positive statement in the knowledge that all political parties are in competition for votes. If there is another UK political party that could defeat the Tories I would understand your entrenched position. But there isn’t. I do believe that Starmer as PM will engage with other likeminded politicians or interested individuals such as Caroline Lucas. I can’t predict that, and neither can you.
To say that Labour is capitalist and that the Greens don’t believe in growth is so broad a pair of statements as to be nonsensical. And that from an academic, brings me to despair too.
I can predict on the basis of precedent and belief
Labour is based on materialism
The Greens are not
Labour ratted on the LDs in 97
They hate the SNP and Greens
And the only consistent thing about Starmer is his braking his word
I sure can extrapolate from that
I would be a fool not to do so
For years it has been part of the labour party constitution that anyone voting for another party cannot be a member. I think that was why Alistair Campbell was kicked out of the party.
You obviously have not realised how much Starmer has taken over the party and runs it under his rules. I was a member on and off for years. I, along with thousands of others, have left because of the way he controls the party now.
He has shut down whole CLPs because of his methods.
If you want to see real hatred of Starmer, I suggest you watch nottheandrewmarrshow tomorrow at 10.30. Richard has been on there a couple of times, as has Prem Sikka.
https://nottheandrewmarrshow.co.uk/what-is-bidenomics/
Prem Sikka explaining what Rachel Reeves said a couple of weeks ago. I expect he will be on tomorrow, as will Doctor Bob Gill, who we hope will stand against Starmer at the next election to save the NHS. Starmer and Streeting certainly don’t want to.