Greens celebrate first elected Green MP in the UK Parliament

OTTAWA -- Canadian Greens are celebrating today as the historic news was announced that Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Caroline Lucas has won her seat in the UK election, becoming the very first Green Member of the UK Parliament at Westminster. Caroline Lucas, who is currently a MEP, has been elected MP in the constituency of Brighton Pavillion with a majority of 1,252 votes over the incumbent Labour MP.

The election of the first ever Green to UK Parliament represents a truly historic moment. Hundreds of thousands of Green voters across the UK now have, for the first time, a voice in Parliament, and genuinely progressive views on issues such as the economy, health, and the environment will now be heard.

“Caroline Lucas's historic victory proves that Greens can win despite the first-past-the post system,” said Green Party of Canada Leader, Elizabeth May, “The UK has been the only nation in Europe where Greens had been shut out. All the others have proportional representation. There are lessons here for Canada. As Green leader I will win my seat as well.”

“The emphatic support of voters in Brighton Pavilion shows that they do want to support a party whose values represent fairness, social justice and environmental well-being. They have shown that they are prepared to put their trust in the Greens, despite the overwhelming national media focus on the three largest parties and a voting system that is fundamentally undemocratic,” said Caroline Lucas. “I feel humbled by their trust in me, and I am excited by this vote of confidence and I'm looking forward to the challenging task of fully representing the voters of Brighton.”

“ ‘The Greens are coming, the Greens are coming’ and here comes Caroline Lucas as the first elected Green in the U.K, shortly after another first for the Greens in Tasmania,” said Jacques Rivard, Green Party of Canada Deputy Leader. “Three times bravo that the world is naturally moving towards embracing social justice and environmental well-being...Next on that trend of elected Greens: Canada...The Greens are Coming...”

-30- 

Contact Information:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
C: 613.240.8921
media@greenparty.ca