Caroline Lucas returns as Green leader in party's first job share with Jonathan Bartley

Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley have succeeded Natalie Bennett as the co-leaders of the Greens, the party announced this afternoon (2 September). Lucas, 55, is the Greens' sole MP and previously served as leader between 2008 and 2012.

Bartley, 44, served as the Greens' work and pensions spokesman and unsuccessfully ran for the Streatham seat at the 2015 general election. The pair secured a landslide victory with 89% of first preference votes. The announcement came on the first day of the party's conference in Birmingham, West Midlands. Amelia Womack, 31, was re-elected as the party's deputy leader.

Bennett received a standing ovation from the party faithful as she handed over the reigns to Lucas and Bartley.

The Australian-born politician was elected leader in 2012 and most recently oversaw the party's 2015 general election campaign and EU referendum efforts.

She infamously suffered from "brain fade" during a grilling from LBC's Nick Ferrari over her party's housing policy in the run-up to the general election, with Bennett failing to answer Ferrari's questions.

The Greens attracted 3.8% of the vote at the election and more than 1.5 millon votes, with Lucas being re-elected as Brighton Pavilion MP on an increased majority. Bennett announced her intentions to resign this May, just a month ahead of the EU referendum.