This country deserves a real choice in the next election,” Mr Trudeau said. “It has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.” He joins a growing list of progressive leaders done in by their failure to address the anxieties of ordinary voters,

The prime minister of Canada will step-down in March as the country's leader and head of the Liberal Party, he announced Monday.

Justin Trudeau has announced he will step down after nine years as Canadian prime minister in the face of a mounting set of crises, but stay in office until a replacement party leader is chosen.