Carole James Steps Down as Leader of B.C. NDP

The leaders of the province’s two main parties have both resigned in less than month.

What’s going on in B.C.? Just weeks after hugely unpopular Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell announced he would resign in February, the woman poised to replace him has stepped down from the head of the NDP. Carole James received 84 per cent support from the NDP’s provincial leadership council on Nov. 20, but couldn’t quell an internal revolt from 13 of her 34 MLAs who refused to back down from calling for a leadership vote to replace her. On Monday, she announced she would resign rather than enter a leadership race, but she said she will stay on as an MLA for Victoria. James had lost two provincial elections and dissident party members accused her of having no clear policies.