James to stay as leader of NDP NDP, leader, stay, James

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James to stay as leader of NDP
Emergency caucus meeting to be held this weekend
Dan Burritt Dec 02, 2010 12:34:41 PM
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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A defiant Carole James says she's staying on as NDP leader, and is calling on every NDP MLA to join the team. An emergency caucus meeting will be held this weekend.

Flanked by 13 MLAs she wouldn't say if she would throw Jenny Kwan out of caucus, after her comments about James' leadership. "We will take an opportunity to talk about the behaviour of caucus members. To talk about uniting around the direction that we have been given by our party. And more importantly, to remember who we are here to govern for."

James called Kwan's attack disappointing.

The NDP leader says this weekend's meeting is meant to move the party forward. "Every caucus member will be accountable. I want to give an opportunity for the discussion to occur with our party. This is not simply an issue about me. Let's remember the party spoke loud and clear and sent a message to every caucus member. So this is about more than about me. This is about our party, and this is about getting on with the job we need to do."


Kathy Corrigan and 12 other MLAs stood beside James during the news conference.

She says she's baffled by the dissent amongst the so-called baker's dozen. "Because I've sat around the same table as they have for the last 18 months, and my take on it is that it's been very democratic."

Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains also backed James during the meeting. "If you are really talking about democracy, follow the democratic rules that are in place in the party process."


James says it's time her party started working to become a future government.