Kenney doubles down on ‘lunatics’ comment as leadership review approaches

The premier is not apologizing for comments he made during a secretly recorded conversation he had with his staff, which was leaked to the media.

EXCLUSIVE: Premier @jkenney not sorry for calling some UCP members lunatics, he doubles down in an interview w/ me & names the type of people he's referring to. He notes threats made to MLAs & death threats to his mom. #abpoli #ableg #Alberta — FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/pI7SWTiFgs

— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) March 26, 2022

Jason Kenney said he had thought about stepping down in December instead of facing a leadership review but ended up deciding he needed to run to keep “the lunatics from running the asylum.”

Kenney says he embraces the opportunity of accountability from the UCP membership and noted there are a lot of mainstream conservatives who are frustrated after the last two years.

“At the same time I have seen a growing number of voices from the far margins of Alberta politics that are, I would say, extreme, trying to get involved in the leadership process in our party. That does concern me,” said Kenny.

“When I worked so hard over three years to help build the United Conservative Party I committed it would be a mainstream party.”

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The premier isn’t apologizing for calling some members of his party “lunatics.”

Kenney believes the party is under siege from extremist factions seeking a hostile takeover by toppling him in the upcoming leadership review.

“Marginal voices do not represent Albertans, they certainly do not represent the United Conservative Party. But I am determined to ensure such hateful extreme and divisive voices do not find a home in this mainstream broad conservative party,” he said.

Kenney also told his staff he considered quitting, but he decided it was important he stays to keep the party united and prevent the opposition NDP from regaining power in the next election.