The sand has already shifted under the leader's feet: he has to realize that the new Pierre must be believed by people in the party and among the public. Pierre must demonstrate that he's evolved since the loss and that his mindset and way of doing things have genuinely changed to deal with the circumstances related to the run-up to the next election. His public and private demonstration of that cannot be credible if he digs in his heels and insists that Byrne remain. For at least a plurality of CPC MPs, Byrne is now THE litmus test going forward. She must go. If Byrne stays, that annoyance and dissatisfaction will inevitably be transferred to the leader. In short, as I put it a while back, it's either Byrne or Pierre who walks.
Pierre must face a leadership review in the wake of the election loss. That likely will mean serious trouble if Byrne is still around. This decision won't be easy for the leader, given that Byrne was largely the architect of his leadership win, has a longstanding business and personal relationship with Pierre, and years ago, was his lover. But when push comes to shove, you've got to cut people out, and Byrne must be the first to go. If Pierre still doesn't get that, just ask Butts. He can tell you how cutting your losses goes in a PMO or OLO. That deafening sound you hear is the bus approaching.
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