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Vice-President of the New Democratic Party, St. Clair Leacock, left, and then party president, Arnhim Eustace at an NDP press conference in 2013. (IWN photo)
Vice-President of the New Democratic Party, St. Clair Leacock, left, and then party president, Arnhim Eustace at an NDP press conference in 2013. (IWN photo)
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Vice-president of the New Democratic Party (NDP), St. Clair Leacock, says there is “absolutely no truth” to rumours that he will challenge Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace for leadership of the NDP at the party’s convention later this year.

“And I will go further, it is important for the New Democratic Party at this time that we consolidate our gains. Mr. Eustace remains in office, he leads the party into election, secures not only leadership of the party and East Kingstown seat, but that he also succeed in propelling us into government,” Leacock told I-Witness News on Thursday.

Asked if he could consider a run for the party leadership after the next general elections, constitutionally due in 2015, Leacock said,

“I am already in the leadership of the New Democratic Party — very much in the leadership.”

Asked about his ambitions to be at the head of the party, the Central Kingstown representative said this could depend on circumstances.

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“If circumstances in politics require that I be at the top, and that I have the support of Mr. Eustace and my colleagues, so be it. But, as to whether I am going to instigate or initiate any course of action that will challenge Mr. Eustace’s leadership, that’s not on my radar,” he further said.

Leacock was elected to Parliament during the 2010 general elections and called for “fresh leg” in a post-election speech on radio after the party fell one seat short of forming government, although it won four seats more than in 2001 and 2005.

Eustace, who has been representing East Kingstown since 1998 and has headed the NDP since late 2000, has led the party to three electoral defeats although he has maintained his seat and increased the margin of victory in each election.

Some party supporters, including NDP founder, former prime minister, Sir James Mitchell, who quit politics in 2000 ahead of an impending defeat of the NDP, has called on Eustace to step down as head of the NDP, which Sir James founded in 1975.

4 replies on “Challenging Eustace for NDP leadership ‘not on my radar,’ Leacock says”

  1. TEACHERFANG, Remember when Gonsalves first heard the whisper of Jules coming, he immediately launched into his usual spiteful nonsense.

    Just watch the fat man now, this is one man he is actually frightened of, a man that is more than his match in all factors.

    I bet they have been looking under every bed and opening every cupboard for a reminder of what they can drag up. I say reminder, because fatty twatty knows about all there is to know about Jules, but problem is for fatty, Jules knows more about him than he knows about himself.

    Jules is a good man.

    ps sorry did not mean fat man, should of called him by his new handle, ‘THE SUBSIDY KID’ you will learn why soon…

  2. Claude Leach says:

    The NDP has Hon. St.Clair Leacock and Hon.Dr Godwin Friday- two Vice Presidents. among a team of able people. Why is IWN concerning itself with such “a rumour”at this time?

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