Green MPs in joint leadership bid want focus on electoral growth

Adrian Ramsay is to stand as Greens co-leader with another of the party's MPs, Ellie Chowns, amid what the duo describe as an unprecedented fracturing of political allegiances that mean it is vital to have leaders in Westminster with a proven record of winning.

- Peter Walker

Ramsay has already been co-leader for four years, alongside Carla Denyer. Ramsay, Denyer, Chowns and Siân Berry were elected to parliament last year in the party's greatest electoral triumph.

Last week, Denyer revealed to the Guardian that she would not contest the leadership, instead focusing on her Bristol Central constituency and campaigns such as net zero and affordable housing.

While nominations for the leadership do not formally open until next month, the contest is likely to be between Ramsay and Chowns on one side and Zack Polanski, the current deputy leader, who has already announced a policy of taking the party towards what he has called a Reform-emulating "eco-populism".

While praising the outgoing duo's achievements, Polanski said he believed the Greens should be less cautious and should try to emulate Reform in becoming an insurgent, mass membership political force.