Lekstrom's a 'Rat': BC Conservative

By Andrew MacLeod, Today, TheTyee.ca (excerpt)

What now for the Peace River MLA who quit Libs? Conservatives aren't welcoming.

B.C. Conservative Party spokesperson and former candidate Dean Skoreyko said there's been talk in his party of approaching Lekstrom to join them, but Skoreyko said he doesn't think it would be a good fit. "This isn't a principled move, this is an ass saving move," said Skoreyko. Lekstrom has supported the HST and voted for it, he said. "He's had lots of opportunities to stand up and say 'no' to the HST... He's not admitting he was wrong. He's basically saying, 'I want to get re-elected.'" And failing to oppose the HST is going to be the downfall of several Liberal MLAs and a gift to both Conservative and NDP candidates in several ridings, he said. "The polling numbers we're seeing from up north in that area are devastating for the Liberals," he said. "The writing's on the wall for a lot of those guys. If they want to save their careers, they better get off that Liberal ship right away."

'A rat is a rat is a rat': Conservative spokesperson

It's too late for Lekstrom to reverse his HST position, Skoreyko said. "You can't stand up in the house when 85 per cent of B.C. is against it according to the polls and support it, then stand up a few weeks later and say you're against it," he said. "A rat is a rat is a rat." It's tough to predict what Lekstrom will do, he said. "I don't know how politically astute Blair is." Perhaps he's angling for the Liberal leadership when Campbell goes and wants to distance himself from an unpopular policy, Skoreyko speculated. Maybe he's planning to support a leadership bid by former finance minister Carole Taylor. Maybe he does want to join the Conservatives, though he's likely a better fit with the NDP, he said. "He knows where our phone number is if he's interested."

Adopting an independent would, however, be a boost to the Conservatives, he said. Vicki Huntington has been sitting as an independent since unseating former attorney general Wally Oppal in Delta South in last year's election. "We're hoping she'll come over," said Skoreyko. "If we're going to talk about someone coming into the party, I'd rather talk to Vicki than talk to Blair." The Conservatives have been gaining in the polls despite having no leader, he said. They are solidifying ties with the federal party and have donation money coming in. It would be a good time for Huntington, who has conservative roots, to join, he said. "That conversation, I think, is not too far away."