Conservative MP John Williamson has decided not to run for the party’s leadership citing family reasons and the contest’s high fundraising requirements.
Williamson doesn’t have the high profile of other potential candidates who decided against a bid, including Jean Charest, Rona Ambrose, Pierre Poilievre, Candice Bergen and Christy Clark. But he was taking aim at the race as a “blue conservative,” a more right-wing candidate who would have focused especially on small government and fiscal conservatism.
In particular, it was Poilievre’s decision against running that seemed to open up a lane for Williamson. But in a statement released on Wednesday, Williamson said the timing wasn’t right.