James survives crucial vote

B.C. New Democrat Leader Carole James survived a crucial vote at a provincial party council meeting in Victoria on Saturday.

James won the party's support as delegates voted 97 to 18 against a motion calling for a leadership convention in 2011, an obvious challenge to James's leadership of the party.

"I think it was a very strong message to the people of British Columbia that this group is ready to take power, that the infighting is not as significant as we thought it was. It was overwhelming in favour of the leader," said Jim Sinclair, president of the B.C. Federation of Labour and a James supporter.

James loyalist and Malahat-Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan said he was happy with the result.

"I'm very pleased that the delegates spoke with a decisive voice," he said.

"It will allow us to now prepare the platform and policies that the public want to see in the next government of British Columbia. We have to demonstrate to the public that we are mature enough to govern and I think we've taken a good step in that direction today."

'Fighting amongst ourselves'

Speaking to the party faithful beforethe votes, James attempted to rally support and unify the party in a fiery speech.

"We're going to challenge the Liberals on their record in every corner of British Columbia. We're going to challenge their desperate and reckless tax cuts, their shameful treatment of seniors," James said.

"I want everyone in this room to remember that the Liberal failures don't automatically translate into NDP success. We have to work for it. We have to earn it. We have to prove to British Columbians that New Democrats can govern and I have to say, in the last few weeks, we've not done a very good job of that. At a time when we should be united, we're fighting amongst ourselves.

"British Columbians are shaking their heads. They're wondering what's wrong with B.C. politics and I have to say, they're wondering right now whether the New Democrats have what it takes to be government and what makes me so angry is this isn't about me, this isn't about the party, this is about the people who aren't being served by this kind of infighting in our party."

James's proponents wore yellow scarves emblazoned with the letter "C" to demonstrate their support. About a dozen MLAs were counted not wearing scarves, including known dissident Harry Lali.

However, when asked about hischoice notto wear a scarf, Lali declined to comment.

"Actually, yellow is not my colour," he said.

"Red is and blue is and green, those kind of colours I have nota single piece of yellow clothing in my entire wardrobe. You can interpret it any way you want but I have no comment."

James's leadership has been called to question in recent days, with some caucus members making it clear they want James to bow out.

On Friday, after squabbling amongst caucus members, a visibly angry James said that her party needed to grow up.

Kootenay West New Democrat Katrine Conroy is the latest to quit the party, resigning as caucus whip after a five-year stint.