Blaikie supporters to rally behind Layton

Supporters of Winnipeg-Transcona MP Bill Blaikie say it's time to move on after Blaikie lost his bid to head the federal New Democrats this weekend.

Blaikie came in second, garnering 24.7 per cent of the vote. Jack Layton won with 53.5 per cent.

• INDEPTH: NDP Leadership Race
  

Judy Wasylycia-Leis, MP for Winnipeg-North Centre, was sitting a few seats down from Blaikie when the results were announced at the convention in Toronto. She describes the first few moments after the announcement as ones of "stunned silence."

Now she says the party has to regroup and turn its support to the new leader, Jack Layton.

"It was very important to put aside our disappointment and rally behind the new leader for the good of the party, and the kind of work before us in Parliament," she says.

"We knew we had to quickly regroup and show support and pledge together to work together as a strong team."

Wasylycia-Leis says it won't be easy at first to be a party without a leader in the House of Commons, but she hopes Blaikie can continue being an important force in Parliament while Layton builds his profile outside the House.

The federal NDP will have its first caucus meeting with Layton as the leader late Monday morning.