Cummins to be new B.C. Conservative leader

Former federal Conservative MP John Cummins appears set to take over as the new leader of the B.C. Conservative Party.

Cummins says he has not yet been officiallydeclared the new leader of the party, but he knows of no other candidates that entered the race by the deadline on Tuesday night.

It's expected members will hold a yes or no vote to confirm the new leader at the party's leadership convention on May 28.

In the meantime,Cummins says he's excited by the prospect of building theB.C. Conservative Party.

"It means that we can focus on our efforts to give substance to the party, to grow the party and develop the mechanisms that are necessary to run a successful party and prepare for the election," he said.

Cummins spent 18 years as an MP representing the riding of Delta Richmond-East and was first elected as one of the original Reform Party MP's.