Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer: 'I was really nervous before the first election debate'

Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, has had a busy year – from co-leading the Greens to a record four seats at this year’s election, to continuing to campaign for climate action.

But what does the politician have planned for the festive season? For the Big Issue’s My Big Year series, we spoke to Denyer about her Christmas traditions, as well as her highs and lows of 2024.

So here’s what she has planned for the end of the year, and what she hopes to accomplish in 2025.

BIG ISSUE: What has been the standout moment of 2024? 

CARLA DENYER: For me it was the TV debates ahead of the general election – in particular that first BBC debate. I was really nervous at the start but after the first question I realised I could do it and that I was a match for the other candidates.

What’s your biggest failure this year? 

Trying to do it all and pushing through exhaustion which has resulted in me getting ill and unable to work at times.  

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What is the oddest family Christmas tradition you keep? 

We have these wooden blocks that spell out ‘Merry Christmas’ and we always try to rearrange them to find new anagrams each year. The options seem to be endless – and all nonsense. Mr Starchy Miser, and other ruder options.

• Green Party leader Carla Denyer on climate crisis, fighting for trans rights and beating Labour
• Wealth tax, tuition fees and vow to ‘fix broken Britain’: Key takeaways from the Green Party manifesto

What do you think the world got wrong this year? 

Electing Trump and the general moves to the far-right in a number of countries across the world. And of course, failing to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.

What do you think the world got right this year? 

The exponential growth of solar power has been fantastic to see, to the extent that if we continue with this growth the world’s solar capacity could double in just a year, helping us to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change.

What’s the one conversation you wish you were able to have in 2024? 

I would have liked to have had the opportunity in late 2023/early 2024 to speak with Keir Starmer to urge him to reconsider his stance on Gaza and join with the Greens in calling for a suspension of arms sales to Israel.

What’s your big issue for 2025? 

Climate, it has to be climate, if we want to stay within 1.5°C of global warming then it is the decisions that this parliament makes over the next few years that matter. And that’s why having more Greens elected in this parliament is so valuable, because we can push the government from taking small steps in the right direction to making the big changes that are needed.

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