VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Carole James will step down as leader of the BC NDP once an interm leader is chosen. The announcement follows weeks of internal dissent and calls for an immediate leadership convention.
On Sunday, the party cancelled an emergency caucus meeting planned to deal with the ongoing controversy over James' leadership.
Last week, the party's longest-serving MLA Jenny Kwan came out with a blistering public attack on James' leadership.
Reaction to James quitting
Meanwhile, Kwan has released a letter thanking James for her leadership and dedication over the last seven years. She says it's a difficult time for the NDP but she looks forward to democratic renewal, including a one member one vote leadership convention.
NDP MLA and long-time Carole James supporter Harry Bains says it's a sad day for the party.
He says he's shocked and disappointed James is deciding to leave her post. "She proved to be a very capable leader. She brought us from two members in 2001 to 35, and we were on our way to win the next election under her leadership."
Bains thinks James probably took a lot of time to consider the best interests of the party and the province, and put her personal interests aside. He says while she'll be missed, it's time for the NDP to lick its wounds and move on.
Jim Sinclair with the BC Federation of Labour says it's too
early to speculate on who will replace James.
"I think that the challenge ahead of us is now to
basically have a leadership campaign, to have a debate over the future of the
province because, frankly, regardless of who's leading the NDP, it's the only
viable alternative to the Liberals," he asserts.
Two Liberal leadership contenders are weighing in on the situation. George Abbott says he was surprised by news of the resignation but warns while the party may be down, it certainly isn't out.
"I think the BC Liberal party regardless of who they elect as leader are going to have their work cut out for them to try to win a fourth term. The NDP can't be underestimated. They will be a powerhouse come 2013."
Mike De Jong says it must be a difficult day for Carole James and admits while he didn't agree with her much, he never doubted her commitment to public service.
President of the BC Conservatives Wayne McGrath says his party will be taking advantage of Liberal and NDP problems in the next provincial election campaign.
"By that time we will have our constituency associations up and running, and in a position to be able to nominate 85 hopefully very strong candidates," surmises McGrath.
What's next for the NDP?
University of Victoria Political Science Professor Dennis Pilon says yes, there's obviously been a lot of fighting in the NDP caucus, but that doesn't mean things are necessarily that bad.
"If you go to an NDP convention, they are scrapping and battling, then they're all together at the end to say 'we're going to go forward and do our thing,' so I wouldn't worry about that."
But Pilon says introducing the new leader, whoever that may be, to British Columbians could be a challenge.
"It's hard to get a sense of who the other people are behind Carole James, because they don't get much face time," he points out. He sees no obvious choice for who should replace James.
SFU Professor Lindsay Meredith says BC's New Democrats see a real opportunity here, but didn't feel they could capitalize on it with James as leader.
"They see the Liberals in such disarray with such voter non-confidence. They see a genuine whack at getting the golden bell. What was the problem? The same problem the Liberals had: the leader was pulling less than the party support was."
He adds the new leader should be strong, charismatic, and one who can move the party from the left to the centre.