Carla Denyer has announced she will not seek re-election as co-leader of the Green Party, marking the end of the party’s most electorally successful leadership team.
Denyer, who won the Bristol Central seat from Labour at last year’s general election, said she wants to dedicate herself fully to her work as an MP. Denyer has served as co-leader since 2021 alongside Adrian Ramsay, who also entered Parliament last July as MP for Waveney Valley. Ramsay must now decide whether to run alone or with a new co-leader in the upcoming leadership race.
Deputy leader Zack Polanski has already declared his candidacy. The Greens, who normally hold leadership elections every two years, will open nominations on 2 June, with members voting in August.
In a statement, Denyer reflected on the team’s achievements, noting the Green Party’s growth from one MP to four, and from 450 to over 850 councillors. She said, “We’ve achieved so much… but this is just the start for me and the party.”
Denyer emphasized her motivation to have the “biggest positive impact,” adding that she believes the best way to serve now is by focusing entirely on her parliamentary role. “We’re at a critical juncture in British politics,” she said. “With the hard right on the rise… it’s never been more important for Greens to offer a genuinely hopeful vision for our future.”
Alongside Denyer and Ramsay, Sian Berry recaptured the Brighton Pavilion seat, and Ellie Chowns was elected in North Herefordshire, boosting the party’s parliamentary presence.
Polanski, in announcing his leadership bid, called for the Greens to adopt a bolder, mass-membership “eco-populism” strategy. He suggested the party needs to confront the rise of Reform UK, which has a far larger membership and made strong gains in local elections.
The Greens have long used a co-leadership model, with previous leaders including Caroline Lucas, Jonathan Bartley, and Sian Berry.
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