Greens say #ThanksNatalie as GPEW leader announces she’s stepping down

Natalie Bennett has announced that she will not be seeking re-election as leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. In a Huffington Post blog, she said “It’s been a privilege and an honour to have the title “leader of the Green Party”, but every member of the Green Party is a leader, helping to lead the way towards a society in which we live within our environmental limits while ensuring no one fears hunger or want.”

Of course, with a party that has around 63,000 members, reaction to our leader standing down has spread across Social Media. Very soon after the news broke on Sunday night, a lot of Greens were tweeting using #ThanksNatalie.

People praised her work on the ground:

#ThanksNatalie for all your encouragement and support! A leader in touch with all the activists and members on the ground.

— Clare Siobhán Keogh (@GreenClareKeogh) 16 May 2016

#ThanksNatalie for being a great supporter of local parties and taking the time to visit and listen to us all 😊@natalieben @TheGreenParty

— Andrew Nickolls (@AndrewNickolls) 15 May 2016

As well as the growth that the party has seen since she became leader:

Irritating how mainstream media reporting on @natalieben. Trying to paint x4 membership & largest ever vote share as failure #ThanksNatalie

— Johnny Cabaret (@johnnycabaret) 16 May 2016

Well done to @natalieben for being an engine which drove the growth of GPEW #ThanksNatalie https://t.co/6bFoGKCVUB

— H&I Greens (@hsigreens) 16 May 2016

And of course, there was the admiration, and remembering how inspiring Natalie has been:

Admire all the work that @natalieben has put in and how she has time for everyone. #ThanksNatalie ! @TheGreenParty https://t.co/yN7z0roITq

— Lee-Anne (@GreenLee_Anne) 15 May 2016

She convinced me to join @TheGreenParty and become an activist. #ThanksNatalie for making me proud to be political.

— Antipathti (@antipathti) 16 May 2016

I’ve tried, but 140 characters will never be able to express how proud & inspired I’ve been by @natalieben‘s leadership #ThanksNatalie

— Matty (@SomersTownGreen) 16 May 2016

Sian Berry also made a positive Facebook post about Natalie’s time as leader, it’s too long for us to show here, but do give it a look!

Nominations for the Green Party Leadership elections open on 1 June 2016 and close on 30 June. A campaign period will run from 1 July until 24 July, at which point the one-month balloting period begins. The new Leadership team will be unveiled at the Green Party’s Autumn Conference in early September.

 

So, on behalf of Bright Green, I guess all that’s left for me to say is: #ThanksNatalie!