Principal Speakers were the public spokespersons of the Green Party of England and Wales but have since been replaced in the party by a national Leader and Deputy Leader. There were two Principal Speakers, one female and one male, who were elected annually at the Green Party's Autumn Conference and held no vote on the Green Party Executive (GPEx). A referendum passed on 30 November 2007 has abolished the posts after this current term, however, and a leader and deputy were elected at Autumn Conference on September 5 2008.