Long-time Liberal MP Wayne Long says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should give more weight to the opinions of his supporters when determining his future leadership of the party, rather than relying on those in his direct orbit. said it should.
“Seriously, stay out of the inner circle,” Long told CTV’s Question Period host Vassie Kapelos in an interview broadcast Sunday. “I don’t want to say names, but let’s stay away from people, because clearly the prime ministers are somewhat isolated.”
He said he understands and respects that, but that Trudeau should “stay out of that inner circle.”
The prime minister spent just 18 hours thinking about his future as leader, after sources told CTV News that Mr Long promised he would take time to consider calls for the prime minister to resign during Wednesday’s caucus meeting. He said he was “shocked” that it wasn’t there.
Sources also told CTV News that at least 20 MPs told Trudeau during the first 90 minutes that they wanted him to leave the meeting.
But in a press conference less than 18 hours later, Trudeau was adamant that he would run again, a comment that surprised some in his caucus, including Long.
“I think we wanted some serious remorse,” he told Kapelos. “Looking back 18 hours later, with all due respect, I think the prime minister had already made up his mind.”
Long described the meeting as “intense, direct and frank” and said the number of MPs calling on Trudeau to call off the meeting was likely “twice as many” as reported. Ta.
“I’m a three-term congressman,” Long said. “I have seasoning and battle scars. For me, it’s another thing to stand up to the Prime Minister in a caucus and say: ‘You need to resign.’ But give a little credit to the others who have stood up, the list includes 24 people, young MPs, new MPs, various MPs, for standing up. This required a lot of courage. It takes a lot of courage. ”
A New Brunswick lawmaker says that while each national caucus from 2022 promises an upturn in the Liberal Party’s fortunes, people still “don’t realize what’s going on around them.” Something like that.”
The Liberals have trailed the Conservatives in opinion polls for more than a year, often by as much as 20 points.
Mr. Long, who has already announced that he will not run again in the next election, said “no one is happy” to be part of those calling for Prime Minister Trudeau to resign, but that his party “doesn’t want to run as a human being.” It’s bigger than that.”
“Honestly, it’s bigger than Justin Trudeau,” Long said, adding that he believes “history will be very kind to Justin Trudeau” if the prime minister steps down.
