Kerry-Lynne Findlay stepped down as leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia on Sunday, four months into a tenure marked by mass caucus defections and escalating infighting.
Findlay broke the news in a post on X, saying the party’s energy had been “consumed by internal conflict,” instead of going toward challenging David Eby’s government and building an alternative for voters.
Findlay is still running as the Conservative candidate in the Abbotsford-Mission by-election set for September 26, after Reann Gasper resigned the seat last month to open Findlay’s path into the legislature. She claimed the party’s leadership in May, edging out Caroline Elliott on the fourth ballot by a 51-49 margin. Three days earlier, she’d told the Union of BC Municipalities convention she had no plans to step aside.
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Surrey-Serpentine River MLA Linda Hepner had quit hours earlier, blaming Friday’s removal of Halford, Rattee and Rustad.
The party held 44 seats after the 2024 election. Six MLAs left before Findlay took over, and 14 more departed during her tenure, leaving the Conservatives with 24.
Related: Seventh MLA Defects To New BC Party As Conservative Caucus Keeps Shrinking
Findlay has been dogged by misconduct allegations stemming from leaked recordings, and by claims the party’s former executive director had a private investigator tail her critics. She denies wrongdoing in both matters.
Political scientists say the resignation reduces the chance of an early vote, since governments rarely call snap elections against a leaderless opposition. At least 12 sitting MLAs are pushing for Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson to step in as interim leader, but the party had not settled on a successor as of Sunday night.
