BC Liberals expel Darryl Plecas from party after Speaker move

The BC Liberal party has revoked the party membership of MLA Darryl Plecas, one dayafter he became Speaker of the provincial legislature.

The party announced that Plecaswas no longer a member in a statement on Saturday.

"Constituents must be able to trust their elected representatives," it said. "Party members must be able to trust those who hold positions of leadership in the party. And members of the legislature must be able to trust one another."

The statement said Plecas' decision was a betrayal, one he made"despite repeated promises and assurances that he would not."

RevokingPlecas' membership was "the strongest action available," a spokesperson added.

'I took him at his word': Coleman

Plecas, MLA for Abbotsford South, was the only member of the legislatureto put his name forward for Speaker.

The move strengthenedthe NDP government's position in the minority parliament, ensuring the party didn't losea voting MLA to sit asSpeaker.

Plecaswas also the only member of the BC Liberals to speak out against the leadership of its former leader, Christy Clark.

The party's interim leader, MLARich Coleman, didn't mince words about his former colleague's move to the Speaker's chair.

"Everyone had committed, including Mr. Plecas, to not run for Speaker," Coleman said Friday. "Itook him at his word.Obviously, that word didn't mean a lot."

There are now 41Liberals MLAs, 41 NDP MLAs,threeGreen MLAsas well as Plecas sitting in the legislature. The Speaker would break any tie votes.