Jonathan Bartley

Jonathan joined the Green Party in 2010, shortly after encountering then Conservative Party leader David Cameron. Bartley was waiting to attend a hospital appointment at the Evelina Children's Hospital with his son Samuel and challenged the future Prime Minister about the Conservative Party’s manifesto pledges, arguing they’d increase the segregation of disabled children. David Cameron’s denial was later shown to be wrong by Channel 4 FactCheck.

In 2015 Jonathan was the General Election candidate for Streatham, increasing the Green vote locally fivefold. A dedicated local activist, he also played a pivotal role in getting the first green councillor elected in Streatham from a starting point of 4th place. As the Party’s Work and Pension’s Spokesperson, he has made numerous media appearances and took on Iain Duncan Smith to expose the suicides of benefit claimants.

A descendant of Irish farmers on one side and Quaker prison reformer Elizabeth Fry on the other, Jonathan has a passion for social justice and studied Social Policy at London School of Economics. He worked in Parliament on a cross-party basis from 1994-1998 and used that experience in his roles as vice chair of the electoral reform society and vice chair of Yes to Fairer Votes campaign during the 2011 referendum.

He has also served as chair of Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education and helped establish the Accord Coalition with British Humanist Association and teaching unions to reform faith schools. In 2000 Jonathan set up an online charity that has since raised over £1 million for work in the global South.

Married to Lucy and a proud Dad of three children, Jonathan spends whatever free time he has gigging with his band, the Mustangs, and was nominated for Blues Drummer of the Year Award in 2010.