Caroline Lucas becomes Green Party's first MP (first seat ever in the UK)

[onehandle]

Source: Daily Mail

The Green Party has gained its first ever Westminster MP.

In a major electoral success, the party's leader and MEP Caroline Lucas took the seaside seat of Brighton Pavilion from Labour.

Britain is the only country in Europe which has never had a Green MP elected to its national parliament.

Her victory is a remarkable achievement for the party, which has sought to put environmental issues at the heart of the General Election campaign.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/election/article-1274137/General-Election-2010-Green-Party-set-win-MP.html

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I heard this live a few minutes ago on UK radio. Ah, found a link, above.

If you find UK politics interesting, read my earlier post. What I heard on UK radio over several minutes was telling in many ways. About them and their view of us:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8288289

[napi21]

1. Is this a fina count I'll be thrilled if it is! nt

[tjwmason]

2. Yes - this is now confirmed

It's a very interesting and positive development.

[tishaLA]

3. and the BBC said she could have an impressive amount of power

because of the hung parliament.

[JawJaw]

4. A Cabinet Position Would be Nice...

but in an interview with Jeremy Paxman she said that rather than form a pact, the Greens would be more likely to side with other parties on a case by case basis.

This achievement is headline news on the UK tv networks, though.

Well done, Greens!

[Turborama]

5. I heard that.

Excellent news.

I'm torn about Zac Goldsmith's win, though. With his credentials I reckon he should be in the Green Party, not the Tories.

[cory777]

6. Green Party wins first ever UK parliamentary seat

Source: Reuters

LONDON, May 7 (Reuters) - The Green Party made its most significant political breakthrough in Britain on Friday when it won its first ever national parliamentary seat in the southern English seaside city of Brighton.

Caroline Lucas, the environmental party's leader and a Member of the European Parliament for South East England, won the Brighton Pavilion seat, overturning a Labour majority of 5,000 in the process.

"Tonight the people of Brighton Pavilion have made history by electing Britain's first Green MP," a jubilant Lucas said. "Thank you so much for putting the politics of hope above the politics of fear.

The Greens have already found a foothold in Brighton, best known as the gay capital of Britain and renowned for its beaches, royal palace and seaside pier. It already had a number of councillors on the local authority.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE6440UE.htm

[Ghost Dog]

7. Good. The Greens deserve this (and more),

and Caroline Lucas does the job well.

[LeftishBrit]

8. One bit of good news.

The election result overall is a bit of a mess, with some good people losing, and too many Tories getting in, but at least the Tories haven't got an *overall* majority.

[NeoGreen]

9. My dream/wish/hope is for the US to have a political shift...

... to where the Democratic Party is on the right and the Green Party is on the left and the Reps have gone the way of the Whigs.

If you're going to dream, dream big.

Edited to rephrase.