Bruce Banman made an announcement on Thursday that he is leaving the B.C. Conservative caucus to serve as an Independent, making him the sixth caucus member to do so since Kerry-Lynne Findlay became the party leader earlier this year. Banman, who represents Abbotsford South, stated that he has been hearing concerns from many individuals who believe that “our new leader is unelectable.”
Expressing a heavy heart, Banman declared his decision to join a growing number of MLAs in the B.C. Legislature as an Independent MLA. He urged his fellow MLAs, irrespective of their political affiliations, to follow suit. This move follows the recent departures of Brennan Day from Courtenay-Comox and Teresa Wat from Richmond-Bridgeport.
Other MLAs who have left the B.C. Conservatives include Rosalyn Bird from Prince George-Valemount and Ian Paton from Delta South. Notably, Paton and Milobar have revealed plans to establish a new political party. The B.C. Conservatives have also experienced the departure of key staff members since Findlay’s leadership appointment, including executive director Angelo Isidorou, president Aisha Estey, vice-president Sharon White, and caucus director of operations Apollo Chung.
Moreover, Reann Gasper, who served as an MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, announced her resignation to enable Findlay to run in a byelection. Gasper subsequently assumed the role of deputy chief of staff within the party. Yuri Fulmer, a Vancouver businessman who contested against Findlay for the B.C. Conservatives’ leadership, criticized the departing MLAs, accusing them of prioritizing personal interests over the party’s objective of defeating the B.C. NDP led by David Eby.
The ongoing internal turmoil within the B.C. Conservative caucus has raised concerns, with Findlay facing criticism for alleged actions incentivizing party members to step aside for her.
