Caroline Lucas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caroline Lucas
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Official portrait, 2019
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| Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales | |
| In office 2 September 2016 – 4 September 2018 Serving with Jonathan Bartley
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| Deputy | Amelia Womack |
| Preceded by | Natalie Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry |
| In office 30 November 2007 – 5 September 2012 Serving with Derek Wall (until 5 September 2008)
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| Deputy | Adrian Ramsay (2008–2012) |
| Preceded by | Siân Berry |
| Succeeded by | Natalie Bennett |
| In office 30 November 2003 – 24 November 2006 Serving with Mike Woodin; Keith Taylor
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| Preceded by | Margaret Wright |
| Succeeded by | Siân Berry |
| Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion |
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| In office 6 May 2010 – 30 May 2024 |
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| Preceded by | David Lepper |
| Succeeded by | Siân Berry |
| Member of the European Parliament for South East England |
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| In office 14 June 1999 – 6 May 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Keith Taylor |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Caroline Patricia Lucas
9 December 1960 Malvern, Worcestershire, England |
| Political party | Green Party of England and Wales (1990–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Green Party UK (1986–1990) |
| Spouse |
Richard Savage
(m. 1991) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Malvern Girls' College |
| Alma mater |
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| Signature |  |
| Scientific career | |
| Thesis | Writing for Women: woman as reader in Elizabethan romance (1989) |
Caroline Patricia Lucas (born 9 December 1960) is a British politician famous for her work with the Green Party of England and Wales. She was the party's first ever Member of Parliament (MP), representing the area of Brighton Pavilion from 2010 to 2024. An MP is a person elected to make laws for the country in the House of Commons.
Caroline Lucas led the Green Party three times. The Green Party focuses on protecting the environment, social justice, and non-violence. Before becoming an MP, she was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), where she helped make decisions for countries across Europe. She has spent her career fighting for a cleaner, fairer world.
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Early Life and Education
Caroline Lucas was born in Malvern, a town in Worcestershire, England. Her father ran a small company that sold solar panels, which use the sun's energy to make electricity.
She went to Malvern Girls' College and later studied English Literature at the University of Exeter. During her university years, she became very involved in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). She took part in peaceful protests because she strongly believed that countries should not have nuclear weapons.
After getting her first degree, she studied journalism at the University of Kansas in the United States. She then returned to the University of Exeter and earned a PhD in English. While studying, she also worked for the charity Oxfam, which fights poverty around the world.
Political Career
How It All Started
In 1986, Caroline Lucas read a book called Seeing Green by Jonathon Porritt, which inspired her to join the Green Party. She quickly took on important roles, helping to share the party's ideas with the public.
In 1993, she was elected to the Oxfordshire County Council. This was a big success for the Green Party at the time. She served as a councillor for four years, working on local issues for her community.
Working in the European Parliament
In 1999, Lucas was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South East England. As an MEP, she worked with politicians from many different countries. She was a member of committees that focused on the environment, public health, and trade.
She was re-elected as an MEP in 2004 and 2009, showing that many people supported her work. During her time in Europe, she continued to campaign against nuclear weapons and took part in peaceful protests at the Faslane naval base in Scotland, where the UK's nuclear submarines are kept.
Becoming the First Green MP
In 2008, Caroline Lucas became the first-ever leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. Two years later, in the 2010 general election, she made history by becoming the first Green Party MP elected to the UK Parliament. She won the seat for Brighton Pavilion.
As an MP, she brought the Green Party's ideas to the national stage. She spoke about the importance of tackling climate change, protecting nature, and creating a fairer society. She decided to step down as party leader in 2012 to focus on her work as an MP for Brighton.
In 2015, she was re-elected with even more votes. She was elected again in 2017 and 2019, each time with a larger majority. This showed that the people of Brighton strongly supported her work. In June 2023, she announced that she would not run for re-election in the 2024 general election, ending her 14-year career as an MP.
Leading the Party Again
In 2016, Lucas became co-leader of the Green Party alongside Jonathan Bartley. They shared the leadership role, which is common in the Green Party. They worked to protect the rights of people from the European Union living in the UK and to keep strong environmental laws.
After a two-year term, Lucas stepped down as co-leader in 2018. She said it was time to "show the power of letting go" and allow others to lead.
Key Beliefs and Campaigns
Throughout her career, Caroline Lucas has been a strong voice for many important causes.
- Protecting the Environment: She has always been a champion for the planet. She has campaigned against fracking (a method of getting gas from the ground that can harm the environment) and has criticised projects she believes are damaging, like the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station and the HS2 railway. She supports making ecocide (the destruction of nature) a crime.
- Animal Welfare: Lucas is a vice-president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and cares deeply about how animals are treated.
- Social Justice: She has supported ideas like a universal basic income, where every citizen would receive a regular sum of money from the government to cover basic needs. She has also worked to hold the government accountable for its spending and decisions.
- Peace and Non-Violence: Lucas has been a lifelong member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and has always argued against war and for peaceful solutions to conflicts.
Awards and Recognition
Caroline Lucas has received many awards for her work.
- She won the Politician of the Year award at The Observer Newspaper's Ethical Awards three times.
- The Spectator magazine named her "Newcomer of the Year" in 2010 after she was first elected as an MP.
- In 2011, she was named "MP of the Year" at the Women in Public Life Awards.
- The BBC Radio 4 programme Woman's Hour included her on its Power List in 2020.
Personal Life
Caroline Lucas married Richard Savage in 1991. They have two sons. She is a vegetarian and has said she is moving towards a vegan diet, which means she avoids all animal products.
Images for kids
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Lucas with Vince Cable in 2017.
