BC Conservative Party Leader John Rustad has resigned, a day after more than half of his caucus sought to force him out.

The interim leader of B.C.’s Official Opposition is now MLA Trevor Halford, one of the former BC Liberals who was recruited by Mr. Rustad to help build the party before last year’s election.

“I want to assure every member and supporter of the party that this was not a hostile takeover by BC Liberals,” Mr. Rustad said in a statement. “We remain to a vision of elected a common-sense Conservative government in BC.”