What’s next for the BC NDP?
Posted September 19, 2013 7:36 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s a new beginning for the NDP. With Adrian Dix announcing he’s stepping down as leader, the focus now turns to what’s next.
Political Science Professor Hamish Telford says you can’t put all of the election loss the New Democrats suffered on Dix.
“I think it would have to be a mistake for the NDP to view their [troubles] as simply a leadership problem — that they just need to find the right leader and they will make the break for it,” he tells us.
He believes the NDP needs to re-think just about everything “…about the nature of their party and how they can expand their appeal to a broader segment of the BC electorate.”
Telford says that means new policies, specifically ones that will let them go after the more left-leaning members of the Liberal party. He feels if the NDP is going to make gains in the next election, that’s probably where it will have to come from.
Telford also warns another leadership race could be divisive.
John Horgan considering another run for the top job
He finished third in the last NDP race, so will he run again? MLA John Horgan says he’s definitely thinking about it. “Now the ball, I guess, is passed to me to figure out what my plan is as an individual and what role I can play in the renewal of the NDP.”
Horgan says he’ll take a couple of weeks to talk to his supporters, “and see whether or not I’m the guy for the next election. That’s a big question and it’s a tall order.”
“We don’t know when the convention will be. We need a bit more detail before I dive into the pool, for sure. But I’m absolutely thinking about it; I’d be foolish not to.”
However, he says Dix will be missed.
“His intellect is unparalleled. [He’s a] smart guy, hard-working guy, and good friend. I will be fond of the time we spent together; I would have loved to have served in an NDP cabinet, with him at the head of the table.”
Former NDP leader Carole James echoes Horgan’s sentiments, calling Dix one of the hardest-working MLAs she’s ever worked with.
“You saw that in his focus, which was… on the values that are important to the people of this province, and fighting for the people of this province. That’s what I’ve always admired about Adrian.”
Former premier Ujjal Dosanjh feels Dix likely questioned himself as leader, after the party choked in the last election. He says aside from obvious names like Mike Farnworth, he could also see Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and MLA George Heyman joining the race.
