VANCOUVER

Dissidents say Cummins was set to resign

The Canadian Press Published Thursday, October 11, 2012 5:30PM PDT Last Updated Thursday, October 11, 2012 5:30PM PDT

BC Conservative leader John Cummins infighting

BC Conservative leader John Cummins speaks at a Wednesday afternoon press conference, brushing off calls for his resignation and downplaying recent infighting within his party. Oct. 10, 2012. (CTV)

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Dissidents within British Columbia's Conservative party say they were hoodwinked by their leader John Cummins when he didn't resign.

Surrey-White Rock constituency association president Allison Patton says those opposed to Cummins leadership were told yesterday that a deal had been reached where Cummins would quit, but keep his $4,000 per month salary for six months.

Instead, Cummins did a round a media interviews saying he wouldn't quit and that "things were going remarkable well" within the party.

Cummins brushed off those opposed to his leadership as a noisy, but small group of party members.

Patton and several other party dissidents held a news conference in Vancouver later in the day Wednesday where they gave Cummins until Friday to resign.

Patton says the BC Conservative Party -- which was challenging the governing BC Liberals in public polling numbers six months ago -- is now in destruction mode under Cummins' continued leadership.