A former UCP organizer has quit the party in disgust after it announced a review would be held over the leadership of Premier Jason Kenney, just months ahead of the next election..“The UCP 2022 AGM would be about 6 months before [the] 2023 provincial election. No governing party will topple their leader, or even voice large discontent, that close to an election. Plus it quiets critics who were demanding a review,” tweeted Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt..“Kindly remove me from the membership roll of the UCP. Please remove me from all fundraising lists and all party email lists,” wrote Brian Hildebrand in a Monday letter to the party..Hildebrand recently stepped down from the UCP board in the riding of Taber-Warner..“It is being reported that the UCP board has sent a letter to CA presidents that it had passed a resolution to hold a leadership review in conjunction with the 2022 party AGM,” wrote Hildebrand..“Quite frankly this is an unacceptable decision to do the absolute minimum, as late as possible, to attempt to address growing dissatisfaction with the current leadership..“Party brand is being irreparably damaged by the unwillingness or inability of leadership to abide by the principles of the party which was passed by party members on October 16, 2020.”.The executive board of the UCP said it will hold a leadership review next year, according to an email sent Friday night to party constituency presidents. .Kenney has been under extreme pressure from within his caucus over his pandemic response. At least six UCP MLAs have gone public with their objections to his policies..If a vote were to happen vote, Kenney would need at least 50 per cent support to remain leader, which some conservative leaders argue should be higher to reaffirm support for the UCP’s “historic mandate”..A notable comparison was Alberta Premier Ralph Klein’s failure to secure 75 per cent support to remain leader in 2006. He later resigned after receiving only 55 per cent support..“The most significant reason for the growing dissatisfaction with the current leadership is the disconnect between party principles and the actions of leadership. This is causing significant damage to the party’s brand which may not be repairable before the next election,” wrote Hildebrand..“The first rule of damage control is to get in front of the situation. The decision to delay a leadership review as long as possible is the exact opposite of effective damage control.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
A former UCP organizer has quit the party in disgust after it announced a review would be held over the leadership of Premier Jason Kenney, just months ahead of the next election..“The UCP 2022 AGM would be about 6 months before [the] 2023 provincial election. No governing party will topple their leader, or even voice large discontent, that close to an election. Plus it quiets critics who were demanding a review,” tweeted Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt..“Kindly remove me from the membership roll of the UCP. Please remove me from all fundraising lists and all party email lists,” wrote Brian Hildebrand in a Monday letter to the party..Hildebrand recently stepped down from the UCP board in the riding of Taber-Warner..“It is being reported that the UCP board has sent a letter to CA presidents that it had passed a resolution to hold a leadership review in conjunction with the 2022 party AGM,” wrote Hildebrand..“Quite frankly this is an unacceptable decision to do the absolute minimum, as late as possible, to attempt to address growing dissatisfaction with the current leadership..“Party brand is being irreparably damaged by the unwillingness or inability of leadership to abide by the principles of the party which was passed by party members on October 16, 2020.”.The executive board of the UCP said it will hold a leadership review next year, according to an email sent Friday night to party constituency presidents. .Kenney has been under extreme pressure from within his caucus over his pandemic response. At least six UCP MLAs have gone public with their objections to his policies..If a vote were to happen vote, Kenney would need at least 50 per cent support to remain leader, which some conservative leaders argue should be higher to reaffirm support for the UCP’s “historic mandate”..A notable comparison was Alberta Premier Ralph Klein’s failure to secure 75 per cent support to remain leader in 2006. He later resigned after receiving only 55 per cent support..“The most significant reason for the growing dissatisfaction with the current leadership is the disconnect between party principles and the actions of leadership. This is causing significant damage to the party’s brand which may not be repairable before the next election,” wrote Hildebrand..“The first rule of damage control is to get in front of the situation. The decision to delay a leadership review as long as possible is the exact opposite of effective damage control.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
