NDP the 'true alternative' to Tories, not interested in merger: Layton

[Metric System]

***Jack Layton says he’s not interested in discussing the prospect of a merger between the NDP and the Liberals, contending the election result shows his party is now the "true alternative" to the Conservatives.

In an interview broadcast on TVA’s Larocque Lapierre on Sunday, Mr. Layton said he’s not having any conversations around the notion the two parties will need to join forces to defeat the Conservatives.***

Full article at link:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-the-true-alternative-to-tories-not-interested-in-merger-layton/article2014429/

[Bragi]

1. Of course they aren't interested

If one waited for the people who have worked on campaigns their entire lives working for either the Libs or the NDP to put down their weapons and join together to defeat the cons next time, then you are destined for disappointment.

There is zero chance that this will happen. The only way I can imagine that a unified centre and centre-left choice will emerge to pick up the votes of the 6 in 10 non-con voters is if the pressure to do so comes from the outside. The parties are not going to lead any unification effort, it would have to be imposed on them.

Since I doubt this will happen, I think we are pretty certain to have another 8-10 years of conservative rule. The NDP and LIB stalwarts within the parties prefer this to any united effort that might interfere with the joys of intense partisanship. It matters not that most of what they cherish about Canada will disappear as the stand by watching.