Will McNeil get the support he needs?
Posted May 14, 2010 03:38:39 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nova Scotia Liberal party members will end the speculation this weekend when the Grits hold their Annual General Meeting in Antigonish and vote on a leadership review of Stephen McNeil.
The questions waiting to be answered are: how much support will he get and will it be enough to keep his job?
Former Liberal leader Vince Mclean got the boot in 1992 with only 51 per cent support in a leadership review.
Current leader Stephen McNeil won’t say what outcome this weekend will satisfy him or his critics.
“Of course I have in my own mind where I want it to be and where I believe it needs to be,” says McNeil. “But I’m going wait and allow the numbers to come out. I’ll feel very good about the fact that I’ll get a strong mandate this weekend.”
Mount Saint Vincent University political science professor Jeff McLeod says McNeil needs a strong showing to put to rest some internal dissension over his leadership.
“If they just barely support their own leader, then they’re not only wounding their leader, but their entire effort to build credibility with Nova Scotians,” says McLeod.
McNeil gets a chance to sway delegates with a speech tonight. The vote results will be announced Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
