I’m not surprised by the outcome of the United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership vote. The man who started the unity ball rolling more than a year ago has completed the task and now the real work begins.
Jason Kenney has less than two years (maybe even quicker if Notley pulls a Jim Prentice and calls an early election) to show Albertans the UCP is a big tent conservative party.
LISTEN: Political analyst Zain Velji on Jason Kenney’s victory and what’s next for the United Conservative Party
WATCH BELOW: Danielle Smith on the next steps for Jason Kenney and the United Conservative Party
That tent has to be big enough for fiscal conservatives and social progressives. Any hint of social conservative policies will have people running to the centre – and the Liberal or Alberta Parties –or even further left to the NDP.
Social conservative policies will be Kenney’s Achilles heel and one the NDP government will be quick to expose.
LISTEN: Reporter John Himpe weighs in as Jason Kenney takes over as UCP leader
What makes it even more difficult for Kenney is the fact that throughout his leadership campaign he promoted his “grassroots guarantee” allowing UCP members to develop policy.
What kind of policies will the grassroots be allowed to develop? Kenney may find himself at odds with his members if those policies threaten to sink his dreams of becoming premier.
WATCH BELOW: What to expect from the new United Conservative Party leader
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