Edmonton

Danielle Smith asked to withdraw leadership review request

Wildrose MLAs unanimously passed a resolution at a caucus meeting Sunday asking for party leader Danielle Smith to withdraw her request for a leadership review.

Smith made the request after the Wildrose party failed to win a seat in four byelections

Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith has asked her party's president to include a leadership review vote after losing all four byelection contests on Monday. (Mike Spenrath/CBC)

Wildrose MLAs unanimously passed a resolution at a caucus meeting Sunday asking for party leader Danielle Smith to withdraw her request for a leadership review.

Smith asked for a leadership review on Oct. 28 after the Progressive Conservative party swept four recent byelections, despite suggestions that voters were tired of the party and could turn to the Wildrose.

The Wildrose Party came in third in two of the byelections.

The announcement comes hours after MLA Joe Anglin quit the Wildrose and became an independent, saying the party is “in turmoil” and “has forgotten it was founded on [a] grassroots principle.”

The resolution was brought forward by Airdrie MLA and opposition house leader Rob Anderson.

“I am humbled and honoured to have the unanimous support of my caucus colleagues,” Smith said in a news release. “We will continue to hold the government to account and present positive alternatives that put Albertans first.”

The review was supposed be brought up at the upcoming Wildrose AGM, but will now be put before the party executive.