Ex-journalist is new Greens leader

12:05, Sep 3 2012

Natalie Bennett has been elected the new leader of the Green Party in England and Wales and promised to fight the coalition Government's "economically illiterate cuts". The 46-year-old Australian-born former journalist was declared the victor of a ballot of party members - beating off the challenge of closest rival Peter Cranie in the final round of a contest fought under the STV system of proportional representation. The vacancy arose after the party's first and only MP, Caroline Lucas, stepped aside as head of her party. The party will announce the result of a vote for a new deputy leader later after delays to the vote counting forced a postponement. Green Party equality rules mean of the two posts, a man and a woman must be elected. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT Ms Bennett will head straight into the party's autumn conference, taking place in Bristol from Friday, where she will deliver the keynote speech. She told a press conference that Green Party policies were "the only viable way forward for British people, for the world".

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