Trent Wotherspoon named interim leader of official opposition

Saskatchewan’s NDP now has one person at the helm.

In a unanimous vote held by the 10-member NDP caucus Tuesday, Regina Rosemont MLA Trent Wotherspoon was elected to lead the official opposition.

The decision comes nine days before the caucus meets with the provincial council to select an interim leader.

Cam Broten stepped down as leader on Monday after losing his seat in the crushing election defeat April 4.

Speaking at the opposition offices in the legislature, Wotherspoon maintained the MLAs didn’t want to wait to get the work done.

“It was the unanimous wish of caucus to proceed in this fashion, there is the feeling among caucus that there is very important work that we need to get done,” he explained. “I’ve offered myself to serve in this capacity and I am ready to do that work in what is a very strong team.”

It is now seen as a foregone conclusion that the provincial council will select Wotherspoon to lead at a meeting scheduled to be held in Saskatoon with the with caucus on April 23.

The NDP’s constitution does not preclude the interim leader from eventually becoming a candidate in the leadership race.

Wotherspoon ran for leader of the party in 2013 but lost in the first round, with Broten the eventual winner

This time round he insists he is not interested in the job permanently.

“I would be fully prepared to serve in that interim capacity if that was council’s will,” Wotherspoon insisted. “Serving as the permanent leader isn’t something that is on for me and for our family, it isn’t right.”