John Rustad quits as B.C. Conservative leader, saying it's not a 'hostile takeover'

The Conservative Party of B.C. has released a statement from John Rustad saying he has resigned as leader, one day after he refused to quit in the face of a caucus revolt.

The statement says the uprising "was not a hostile takeover by BC Liberals," a reference to the centre-right party that imploded before last year's provincial election, with many of its MLAs jumping to the B.C. Conservatives.

Rustad says the party remains conservative, while acknowledging that many members and supporters may have been concerned by the events, which saw him defy MLAs and party executives.

The party's board released a statement on Wednesday saying Rustad had been removed because he was "professionally incapacitated."

Rustad had said on social media that he had not quit and was "not going anywhere," but that message has been deleted.

The party said that a caucus vote had installed Trevor Halford as interim leader after 20 MLAs representing a caucus majority said they had lost confidence in Rustad and wanted him out.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito