Moldy Peaches

The federal New Democratic Party is losing one of its 19 seats in the House of Commons, with MP Bev Desjarlais saying she'll start sitting as an Independent. This isn't a total shock since she lost the NDP nomination battle over the weekend in her Manitoba riding of Churchill. Niki Ashton, the 24-year-old daughter of provincial cabinet minister Steve Ashton, will represent the party when the next federal election campaign begins.

It is rare that anyone challenges a sitting MP / MLA / MPP / MNA, however, Desjarlais was on the wrong side of the same-sex marriage debate and as a result there were not one, but three challengers in her riding.

The people of Churchill will still have a chance to vote for her as an Independent in the next election or Paul Martin will convince her to join the big tent Liberal party??

Read the full story - although the Coles notes version is all that matters.