You might think that after the NDP’s implosion in the recent election, the high-level operatives that have been running the party for the last two decades would take a beat. Maybe do some soul-searching. Perhaps even canvass the opinions of the party’s disappointed members—not to mention the nearly two million NDP voters whose e-day pencils drifted over to other parties in last month’s vote.
But the party’s class of professional consultants with whom power is concentrated do not recognize a fundamental problem with their approach. These are operatives who cycle between senior staff positions in the federal and provincial parties and financially-lucrative, post-partisan corporate firms, and who have shaped the NDP in their image: more moderate, suspicious of the party’s members as well as social movements, and out of touch with working class realities.
Far from seeing this as a moment for a much-needed reset, they are trying to ensure the leadership race will be hostile to any candidate who might want to lead the NDP in a new direction.
Yeah, just like last time when they picked Jagmeet. I was a member back then and it was appalling how they treated Charlie Angus and Niki Ashton, who were overwhelmingly popular with members, but not party leadership.
It would be great to see a populist left-leaning party in Canada. I think the NDP would have to make some major changes for that to happen, however.
Why is the entire political class terrified of the left in so many liberal democracies? Why do even the “left” parties end up fleeing the left for the centre and right? It seems to have happened in several countries in recent decades, leaving their political systems adrift and directionless, and the appetite among voters for real left-wing politics counts for nothing with party leadership.
Why is the entire political class terrified of the left in so many liberal democracies?
Because the left tries to take wealth and power from the people with wealth and power and give it to the people without wealth and power. You can probably see how people who already have wealth and power wouldn’t like that.
Why do even the “left” parties end up fleeing the left for the centre and right?
It’s a mix of leftwing politics losing popularity (this happened in the 70s and 80s all over the world and has since reversed, but see above) and opportunists joining parties that were once full of true believers once they become successful.
It’s really sad to see how the federal NDP have been compromised.
So, would a longer time to a leadership vote mean that the NDP would have to shore up the Liberal minority to prevent an election until after they pick a new leader?
The Liberals are currently being shored up by the Bloc, so no.