As a private citizen, I really don’t think my expenses are the issue here. But rest assured they are also exceptionally modest, tiny, miniscule compared to those of extravagant Dr Lucas.

But a good idea: please, people of Derbyshire, you can have her! I can’t bear her holier than thou preaching and double standards a moment longer.

Useful post from Brighton’s Tories on the same subject.

I wouldn’t associate any “saint” with politics, except perhaps Gandhi. I merely pointed out that Caroline works extremely hard, with relevant examples including twice being voted “best MEP of the year” in the estimation of other MEPs, having also read rather more of her website than anyone else seems to have done.

Like her, I joined the Green Party nearly 25 years ago: within a couple of years she was national Press Officer, and that wouldn’t happen without ability and hard work. Encountering her recently in a campaigning situation which backed up her political work, it also showed she does more than vote or write letters. If a salary of £65k is earned by working 12 hours a day 7 days a week, she earns it.

Yes, her length of association with Brighton is less than ideal, but you must be well aware that any British political party wants representation in a British parliament, not solely in a European parliament. Since being locally elected PPC for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline stays in Brighton while not in Brussels and takes part in local campaigns.

As Britain’s anachronistic electoral system is stacked against her, why should we meanwhile lose a very good MEP? And it would be strange if we did not want her, as an MEP for 10 years and now a highly able leader of the Green Party, to become our first Green MP. Or perhaps you could recommend a better and faster way of getting there?

Since Keith Taylor — second on the Green Party list of MEP candidates — got 22 percent in Brighton Pavilion in the last General Election (only 1.9 percent behind the Tories) there is every hope that he too will be elected MEP along with Caroline.

You didn’t vote for Caroline Lucas today in the European Parliamentary Elections. That’s the most obvious error in your comment. You voted for the Green Party. That’s the nature of a party list system such as d’Hondt. We all voted for parties.

But even if Caroline Lucas is the saint you think she is, I do have an objection:

She will probably win the SE region MEP slot. So why is she so keen to ‘flip’ that for Westminster’s Brighton Pavilion constituency?

I want an MEP totally committed to the job (and the money’s good!). But, and let’s be frank, she’d rather be an MP, ehhh. What’s ethical about that?

As a Brighton Pavilion resident, I think it’s pretty shabby to stand for the European Parliament whilst seeking a westminster seat too.

She’s 3-jobs Lucas. Green Leader. MEP. MP candidate. I think we Brightonians deserve rather more respect… and moreover, we’re bright enough to see through her flimsy relationship to our great city.