Newport woman aims to lead Greens (From South Wales Argus)

Newport woman aims to lead Greens

8:40am Saturday 9th June 2012 in Gwent news

A GWENT woman has thrown her hat into the ring to become the Green Party leader for England and Wales.

Newport's Pippa Bartolotti, known for her campaigning on the proposed Newport incinerator and for her five-day spell in an Israeli jail last year, says Welsh members of the party have asked her to put herself forward for the role.

Current leader and Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas announced last month she would be stepping down. It's thought that the Malpas woman is the first contender for the position.

Ms Bartolotti was born in Cornwall and lived in Bristol, Somerset and London before settling in Wales to bring up her family.

In the past she was chief executive officer at Encrypta Electronics in Newport and also worked as in the Welsh Development Agency and the Welsh Government.

Over the years Ms Bartolloti has lived in Cuba and has driven a convoy of humanitarian aid across Europe to Gaza.

Last year Ms Bartolotti spent five days in an Israeli prison after travelling out on a peace-making exercise in the West Bank.

Ms Bartolotti, who is already leader of the Green Party's Welsh branch, said: "The Greens need to open up the debate and forge a robust direction.

"Turbulent times are ahead, and whilst not many people in the UK are concerned about the suffering climate change will bring, they are very concerned about their jobs, their savings, and why the economy is being so badly mismanaged."

The election will be held over the summer with the results known at the Green Party conference.