Caroline Lucas, the only Green Party MP and first ever to be elected, has announced her intention to stand down at the next General Election.
The MP for Brighton Pavilion said the “intensity” of her constituency commitments, alongside the responsibilities of being her party’s sole MP, have taken focus away from the matters that drive her: “Nature and climate emergencies”.
“As these threats to our precious planet become ever more urgent, I have struggled to spend the time I want on these accelerating crises,” she said in an open letter to her constituents.
“I have therefore decided not to stand again as your MP at the next election.”
Lucas said her time serving her constituency and as MP has been the “privilege” of her life.
“The reason I came into politics was to change things,” she said.
“13 years ago it’s inconceivable that parliament would have declared a climate emergency. And I’ve put issues like a universal basic income and a legal right to access nature on the political agenda; secured the first parliamentary debate in a generation on drug law reform; and thanks to my work in parliament, a Natural History GCSE will soon be on the syllabus.
“I have said the previously unsayable, only to see it become part of the mainstream, on coal, on the myth that endless economic growth makes us happier, on a Green New Deal.”
During her tenure Lucas has not been anti-farming, however she has been a long-time supporter of a more sustainable food system, and realigning food and farming with ecosystem and human health.
For example, when speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference in 2018 she called for a “serious consideration” of measures such as a meat tax – however noted that this would have to be coupled with higher welfare payments and wages for farmers.
This year, the MP has supported motions including to introduce new legislation for the control dangerous dogs to protect the public, promote dog ownership and improve animal welfare; and to encourage government action to raise pay throughout food supply chains and tackle corporate profiteering.
Green Party
Carla Denyer, Green Party leader, paid tribute to Lucas on Twitter.
“Caroline Lucas’ impact on politics in this country cannot be overstated: She truly is a force of nature and has been an extraordinary servant of the people of Brighton Pavilion as well as the Green Party. We are so proud of her achievements,” she said.
“I’ve learnt so much from Caroline, she is an inspiration to me and to many people inside and outside the Green Party who want to see positive change in politics,” she said.
“I’m sad that [she] wont be re-standing, but I’m really excited about the future.”
