Jonathan Bartley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonathan Bartley
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Bartley in 2018
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| Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales | |
| In office 2 September 2016 – 30 July 2021 Serving with
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| Deputy | Amelia Womack |
| Preceded by | Natalie Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay |
| Member of Lambeth London Borough Council for St Leonard's | |
| In office 3 May 2018 – 5 May 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Rob Hill (Labour) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jonathan Charles Bartley
16 October 1971 London, England |
| Political party | Green Party of England and Wales (2010–present) |
| Education | Dulwich College |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics |
| Occupation | Political activist |
Jonathan Charles Bartley (born 16 October 1971) is a British politician. He was a co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. He shared this role with Caroline Lucas from 2016 to 2018, and then with Siân Berry from 2018 to 2021.
Bartley also served as a councillor on Lambeth Council for the St Leonard's area in Streatham. He was the leader of the opposition on the council from 2018 to 2022.
Outside of politics, Bartley helped start Ekklesia, a group that studies how religion affects public life. He is also the drummer for a blues rock band called The Mustangs.
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Early Life and Education
Jonathan Bartley was born in London on 16 October 1971. His father, Christopher Bartley, was a doctor in the NHS and a veteran of the Normandy landings. Jonathan's uncle, Tony Bartley, was a brave pilot during World War II. Jonathan Bartley is also related to Elizabeth Fry, a famous prison reformer.
He attended Dulwich College, a school for boys in south London, from 1980 to 1989. After school, he studied social policy at the London School of Economics.
Political Journey
After finishing university, Bartley worked for several years at the UK Parliament. He helped politicians from different parties with their research.
In 2002, Bartley co-founded Ekklesia. This group looks at how beliefs and values, including faith, play a part in public life. In 2008, he also helped start the Accord Coalition. This group works to stop religious unfairness in schools in England and Wales.
Bartley often appears on TV and radio shows to discuss current events. He has written for newspapers like The Guardian and The Church Times.
Meeting David Cameron
On 27 April 2010, Jonathan Bartley was at the Evelina London Children's Hospital with his son. He was asked if he wanted to meet David Cameron, who was then the leader of the Conservative Party. Bartley agreed.
During their meeting, Bartley raised concerns about plans that he felt would separate disabled children more. He asked why the Conservative Party's plans didn't encourage children with special needs to be in regular schools. Cameron said his party's plans did support this, but later, a fact-checking group said Cameron was mistaken.
After this event, Bartley became the head of the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE). This group supports including all children in mainstream schools.
Supporting Fairer Votes
After the 2010 general election, there was a vote on changing how Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected. This was called the AV referendum. Bartley had always supported making elections fairer.
He became a vice-chair for the "YES! To Fairer Votes" campaign. He spoke to the media often during this campaign. After the vote, he joined the council of the Electoral Reform Society, which works to improve how elections are run.
Joining the Green Party
In 2012, Bartley became a candidate for the Green Party in the London Assembly elections. He received over 18,000 votes. He also helped the party with their media work for the London campaign.
In 2014, he ran as a Green candidate for the St Leonard's area on Lambeth Council. He finished in fifth place.
Bartley often represented the Green Party in media debates. In 2015, he debated welfare issues with Iain Duncan Smith, who was then in charge of Work and Pensions. Bartley also ran for Parliament in Streatham in the 2015 general election. He finished fourth, but the Green Party's vote share increased a lot in that area.
He tried to become the Green Party's candidate for the 2016 London mayoral election, but Siân Berry was chosen instead.
Co-Leader of the Green Party
On 31 May 2016, it was announced that Bartley would run to be a co-leader of the Green Party. He planned to share the job with Caroline Lucas, who had been a leader before. They won the election and became co-leaders on 2 September 2016.
On 3 May 2018, Bartley was elected as a Green Party councillor for St Leonard's ward on Lambeth Council. He became the leader of the Green group and the opposition on the Council later that month.
When Caroline Lucas decided not to run for co-leader again in 2018, Bartley ran with Siân Berry. They were successful and became co-leaders together.
On 16 October 2019, Bartley was arrested while taking part in a protest with Extinction Rebellion in Trafalgar Square.
He ran for Parliament again in the 2019 general election in Dulwich and West Norwood. He finished second, and the Green Party's vote share increased significantly there.
In June 2020, Bartley announced he would run for co-leader again with Siân Berry. They were re-elected in September 2020.
In May 2021, Bartley signed an open letter that asked the government to do more to stop violence against women and girls.
In July 2021, Bartley announced he would step down as co-leader. This led to a new leadership election for the party.
Music Career
Jonathan Bartley is the drummer for a British blues rock band called The Mustangs. The band has released ten albums. In June 2017, they performed at the famous Glastonbury Festival.
Family Life
Jonathan Bartley has three children with his wife, Lucy. In May 2017, Bartley confirmed that he and Lucy had separated.
Books Authored
- The Subversive Manifesto: lifting the lid on God's political agenda (2004)
- Your Child and the Internet (2004)
- (Co-editor, with Simon Barrow) Consuming Passion: Why The Killing of Jesus Really Matters (2005)
- Faith and Politics After Christendom: the church as a movement for anarchy (2006)
