After less than 90 minutes sleep, I woke to the news that Caroline Lucas had won Brighton Pavilion. It would nice to say it was like that Portillo moment, except I was asleep.
Whatever else happened in the 2010 general election this was just brilliant news , Caroline polled 16,238 votes giving her a majority of 1,252 on a 62.3% turnout.
Later that day the BBC covered Caroline doing a street meet in the town. Great publicity while all talk was of deals and hung parliaments, here was the Greens first MP already out meeting her constituents.
What follows is a selection of articles that appeared in the national press :
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/green-party-savours-first-westminster-seat-1965987.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/one-brighton-shining-moment-as-lucas-makes-green-history-1968203.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7119584.ece
While the victory in Brighton Pavilion is a historic first, elsewhere the Green vote was squeezed and the Party was unsuccessful in the other target seats. The media where they have mentioned have commented on the fall in the perecentage of the vote for Green candidates. This analysis fails to take into account that far more candidates were fielded (in excess of 300) and some of these were in constituencies where where little campaigning had been undertaken.
With the world of politics moving into uncharted water and with another general election likely within 18 months, possibly earlier, there will be a need to survey the performance and draw up a clear set of priorities over the coming months.
Key Quotes
"Anyone who believes that exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist."
(Kenneth Boulding)
"Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. "
(Raymond Chandler)
"Live simply so that others can simply live." (unknown)
"I cannot live without books" (Thomas Jefferson)
"Sport is war without the shooting" (George Orwell)
"New York is a great city to live in if you can afford to get out of it" (William Rossa Cole)
The secret of a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits (Patterson Hood)
(Kenneth Boulding)
"Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. "
(Raymond Chandler)
"Live simply so that others can simply live." (unknown)
"I cannot live without books" (Thomas Jefferson)
"Sport is war without the shooting" (George Orwell)
"New York is a great city to live in if you can afford to get out of it" (William Rossa Cole)
The secret of a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits (Patterson Hood)
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