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Call for Tim Hudak leadership review could come as early as next month: report

Last week, after the Tories won only a single seat in five provincial byelections, some analysts mused about Tim Hudak's days as PC leader being numbered.

Not many of us, however, thought that it could happen this quickly.

According to the Toronto Sun's Christina Blizzard, Hudak is "facing a palace coup" that could culminate in a call for a leadership review at a party meeting next month.

Ten London-area Tory party members have signed a motion to amend the PC party constitution to allow for a leadership vote to take place. Many party members have expressed dismay over the Tories’ poor byelection showing last week and feel Hudak’s low personal popularity ratings have a lot to do with that.

Two independent sources, who spoke to the Toronto Sun on condition of anonymity, have confirmed they have requested the leadership review. They say as many as five caucus members support the move.

Blizzard does quote one MPP who supports Hudak and other Conservatives worried about the Liberals and NDP taking advantage of a leaderless party by calling a quick election.

But it's clear that Hudak is in trouble.

[ Related: The biggest loser of Ontario’s byelections: PC leader Tim Hudak ]

Many feel that he was the clear undisputed loser of Thursday's byelections — out of the five votes, the Liberals and New Democrats each won two seats, while Hudak's Tories only won in Etobicoke-Lakeshore on the back of their very popular local candidate, deputy Toronto Mayor Doug Holyday.

As Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition — the government in waiting, if you will — and in the midst of an ongoing Liberal Party gas plant scandal, the Tories were expected to do much better.

Moreover, Hudak's personal polling numbers are weak and he's failed to gain any traction since becoming leader in 2009.

[ Related: Is Doug Ford making a play for Tim Hudak’s job? ]

During a press conference on Friday, however, Hudak was accentuating the positive and even suggested that things were trending the right way for the PCs.

"Look would I have like to have won more ridings? Absolutely," he said.

"But I'm proud of the gains that we did make. I mean we broke through in Toronto. The first seat we've had here since 1999.

"We had the most votes across the province. We had the most votes in the City of Toronto. That's going to translate into big gains whenever we get around to this next election."

Unfortunately, for Hudak, that doesn't seem to be the consensus right now.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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