MLA quits Alberta Liberals, saying the leader seems to be on another planet
Posted Apr 12, 2010 7:51 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Calgary-Currie MLA Dave Taylor has officially resigned from the Liberal Party and will sit as an independent for the rest of his term.
He let party officials know in an e-mail that was sent out Monday morning.
The former radio talk-show host ran for the party’s leadership following the 2008 election. He lost to Dr. David Swann on the first ballot.
Taylor seems to be leaving in a blaze of glory, taking many parting shots at the Grits.
At a news conference, Dave Taylor spoke about Liberal leader David Swann, saying “he just seems to be on a different planet.”
And he says the party is losing support in droves. “A lot of people have already left the party, a lot of rank and file members who simply haven’t bothered to renew their membership.”
Taylor says he has no plans to join another party and likely won’t rejoin the Liberals in the future.
His departure would leave the Liberals with only eight seats in the 83 seat legislature.
The leader of the Alberta Liberals is firing back at Taylor, saying he believes they are stronger now than before.
Dr. David Swann tells 660News, Taylor’s departure means everyone in the party will now be on the same page, instead of focusing on divisions that have cropped up since the leadership race last year.
“We’re pulling together now as a caucus in a new and stronger way and we’re going to be going forward in rolling out some of our new policy. I think that’s going to give us a new boost in energy and commitment from the public at large.”
Swann also rejected Taylor’s assertion that he is a weak leader. Swann says if an election were held today, the Liberals would increase their seat count.
