VANCOUVER ISLAND

Conservative MP expected to announce bid for B.C. Liberal leadership

The Canadian Press Published Sunday, September 24, 2017 11:41AM PDT

Conservative MP Dianne Watts asks a question during Question Period in the House of Commons, in Ottawa on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)

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SURREY, B.C. - A Surrey MP is expected to become the second person officially in the running for leader of the B.C. Liberals.

Dianne Watts is hosting a “special announcement” Sunday afternoon where it is expected that she will announce her candidacy.

Watts is currently the Conservative MP for South Surrey-White Rock, a seat she won in the 2015 federal election.

Previously, she served as mayor of the Vancouver suburb from 2005 to 2014.

Leadership of the party opened up last month after former premier Christy Clark quit politics following her government's defeat on a non-confidence motion.

B.C. MLA Sam Sullivan became the first person to throw his hat in the ring when he announced his candidacy Thursday, and several prominent provincial politicians are hosting special announcements this week.