Leaders of BC Ununited Liberals and the radical BC Conservatives have been sharing amorous glances for a while. Now beyond come-hither looks, they are consummating the relationship.
The political environment in the province is close to where it was during the Campbell/Clark years. A right-wing coalition opposes the centrist NDP. One difference: the big business alliance now wears nametags that say conservative instead of liberal. Another distinction is the shift toward the alt-right.1
This 2024 marriage shows that members can have little say in the direction taken by a political party in British Columbia. Leader of the Official Opposition Kevin Falcon threw in the towel without involving his rank and file.
Mind you, it is not the first time a senior BC Liberal (AKA BC United) abandoned his post. Years ago, former leader Pat McGeer and two caucus colleagues saw more opportunities for influence and power by joining Social Credit to oppose Dave Barrett’s NDP.
At least Kevin Falcon seems to have ended a dishonest masquerade that lasted more than two decades. BC Liberals were never liberal if the adjective describes a centrist political movement that aims to reduce inequities, support small businesses, encourage affordable housing, and protect accessible public healthcare.
It will be interesting to see if Falcon and other former Liberals join with the climate change deniers and begin repeating absurd claims of Rustad’s group. “Kids must be taught how to think — not what to think.” is one example.
1 Merriam-Webster: Alt-right, a right-wing, primarily online political movement or grouping whose members reject mainstream conservative politics and espouse extremist beliefs and policies typically centered on ideas of white nationalism.
Note: My followers on social media will know that I have referred to Kevin Falcon’s party as Lib-Cons. Merger of the party formerly known as BC Liberals with the Conservatives was predictable. Vote splitting would see David Eby remain Premier. Of course, there is no certainty that voters who might have voted BC United will find common ground with Rustad’s anti-science, anti-diversity group.
Categories: BC Liberals, Conservatives, BC
in-sights.ca 
A shotgun wedding, by its very nature, is rarely if ever well planned. This one is no different, as Falcon is undoubtedly discovering by the agonizing minute.
One of the consequences of being enticed into the back room on your own is that you wind up without the advice your veteran team. You then miss little details like ensuring that when you throw folks overboard they should be chained to an anchor, and that chain shouldn’t be wound around one of your own legs.
There are now no small number of survivors that have discovered they aren’t really chained to anything, and they are not happy with their former captain. That new suit purchased for the victory party is now soaking wet and might shrink a size or two before October. Better to buy a new suit, even if it is a different colour. How many ways can the vote be split? We are about to find out.
And wherever Mr. Falcon eventually winds up toiling to earn his daily bread, that position will forever look like a payoff engendered somewhere in a back room.
There will be no honeymoon.
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