Natalie Bennett to step down as Green party leader

'I'm not a lifelong politician,' says Bennett, as speculation begins over successor, with Caroline Lucas a likely strong contender

Natalie Bennett is to step down as leader of the Greens this summer, after saying she believed she had established her party as a national force while acknowledging that she was not a "spin-trained, lifelong politician".

She will remain leader until the end of August when her second two-year term expires, but said she was making the announcement now to allow possible successors plenty of time to come forward.