Floor-crossing MLAs unlikely until later in term: political scientist
Posted June 10, 2017 10:38 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Just how likely is it that we see a BC MLA hop across the aisle and switch parties before the BC Legislature is recalled on June 22nd?
One expert says there is undoubtedly a lot of back-room chatter going on right now, but it’s probably not going to happen any time soon.
SFU political scientist Dr. David Moscrop says both the BC Liberals and NDP would love to bolster their caucuses at this point, even if that meant adding one of the three Green Party MLAs.
“So I’m sure there is lots of that (discussion) going on. I don’t think it’s very likely at this point.”
“I would say if anything, it becomes more likely as the term wears on. It’s only been just over three weeks since an election and I don’t imagine anyone is going to be going anywhere.”
He says it’s more likely a BC Liberal would defect.
“If you’re an NDP MLA, what do you want from the Liberals short of premier? You’ve got a chance to govern after 16 years in the back-benches.”
But that won’t be easy says SFU political scientist Dr. David Moscrop.
“It would be, I’d imagine, political suicide to cross. People don’t tend to like that when you do it. They tend to punish you at the next election and fair enough.”
