Political party OneBC says former British Columbia Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay and her husband, former Conservative MLA Brent Chapman, have faced a “torrent of threats and abuse” from people within the Conservative movement.
The statement comes after Chapman decided not to run for OneBC in Surrey South in the upcoming B.C. provincial election. Chapman had announced last month that he would join OneBC and contest the riding after Findlay resigned as leader of the B.C. Conservatives following weeks of internal turmoil and caucus defections.
However, Chapman’s name was absent from the final list of candidates released by Elections BC on Sunday. OneBC said the decision for him to step aside was mutual, citing the enormous strain experienced by the family in recent months.
“Politics is important, but so is family and security,” OneBC said, while expressing support for Chapman’s decision to withdraw from the race.
Findlay resigned as leader of the B.C. Conservatives on September 20, less than four months after winning the party leadership. Her resignation followed a period of significant internal conflict, including the departure of several sitting MLAs from the Conservative caucus.
At the time of her resignation, Findlay said attacks directed at a person’s character and family, as well as threats, had crossed a line. She argued that political disagreements should not become personal attacks against candidates and their relatives.
Chapman had initially planned to seek election under the OneBC banner in Surrey South, but the party now says he will not proceed with the campaign. His withdrawal adds another development to an already unsettled political landscape on the right side of B.C. politics.
OneBC emerged as a splinter group from the B.C. Conservatives and is fielding candidates in the October 24 provincial election. The party’s interim leader, former Conservative MLA Dallas Brodie, is also seeking re-election.
The B.C. Conservatives have experienced considerable upheaval since Findlay became leader, with internal divisions and defections reshaping the opposition landscape ahead of the provincial vote. Some former Conservative MLAs have since joined other political groups, including CentreBC.
Chapman’s decision not to run underscores the personal and political pressures surrounding the Conservative split as parties prepare for the October election.
OneBC has not provided specific details about the alleged threats or identified the individuals it says were responsible. The party’s statement focused on the broader pressure faced by Findlay, Chapman and their family during the recent political turmoil.
The allegations are likely to add further scrutiny to the increasingly divided political landscape in British Columbia as voters prepare to choose their representatives in the provincial election.
Swifteradio.com
