Green Party leader Caroline Lucas arrives to cast her vote
After so many years of not being taken at all seriously, the Green Party had cause to celebrate on May 7: Caroline Lucas became the party's first-ever MP in England when she won the Brighton Pavilion seat in the south. Lucas managed to turn a healthy Labour majority of 5,000 into her own lead of just more than 1,200, a staggering swing of 8.4%. "For once, the word historic fits the bill," she told supporters on Friday. "Thank you so much for putting the politics of hope above the politics of fear." For one night, at least, it was easy being green.