Reminds me of Peter Kormos. Like Peter Kormos, was also shunned by the established NDP. I can’t help but think if he had won the leadership instead of Jagmeet Singh it would’ve been a really interesting time.
The comparison to Kormos is apt - both were/are principled politicians who sometimes found themselves at odds with party leadership while maintaining strong connections to working-class voters.
Leadership races are fascinating because they represent those rare moments when party members directly influence their party’s direction. The 2017 NDP leadership race was particularly significant with four distinct visions for the party’s future. Angus represented a return to labor-focused progressive populism that might have positioned the NDP differently in our political landscape.
What I find interesting is how much our First-Past-The-Post system shapes these leadership decisions. Parties feel pressured to select leaders they believe can “break through” rather than necessarily representing their core values. Under proportional representation, parties would be freer to choose leaders who authentically represent their vision without the strategic calculation of “electability” in swing ridings.
The NDP’s consistent support for proportional representation is one thing I appreciate about them, regardless of who leads the party.
Reminds me of Peter Kormos. Like Peter Kormos, was also shunned by the established NDP. I can’t help but think if he had won the leadership instead of Jagmeet Singh it would’ve been a really interesting time.
The comparison to Kormos is apt - both were/are principled politicians who sometimes found themselves at odds with party leadership while maintaining strong connections to working-class voters.
Leadership races are fascinating because they represent those rare moments when party members directly influence their party’s direction. The 2017 NDP leadership race was particularly significant with four distinct visions for the party’s future. Angus represented a return to labor-focused progressive populism that might have positioned the NDP differently in our political landscape.
What I find interesting is how much our First-Past-The-Post system shapes these leadership decisions. Parties feel pressured to select leaders they believe can “break through” rather than necessarily representing their core values. Under proportional representation, parties would be freer to choose leaders who authentically represent their vision without the strategic calculation of “electability” in swing ridings.
The NDP’s consistent support for proportional representation is one thing I appreciate about them, regardless of who leads the party.