Six months before a general election, Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal party is embroiled in internal turmoil.

Kevin Hussey resigned Wednesday night as vice-president of the provincial party, which public opinion polls show has been holding just a fraction of the support that Premier Danny Williams's Progressive Conservatives attract.

Liberal party president Danny Dumaresque makes no apologies for his style, which prompted the resignation of party vice-president Kevin Hussey on Wednesday.
(CBC)

In an e-mail circulated to the party executive, Hussey pointed the finger at provincial president Danny Dumaresque.

"I feel the direction our party has taken will do nothing," wrote Hussey, "only destruct in the near future." Hussey would not agree to an interview with CBC News.

Hussey expressed support for party Leader Gerry Reid.

Hussey's resignation follows the resignation of treasurer Tom McGrath, who stepped down this winter. Hussey, in a separate e-mail, attributed that also to Dumaresque.

Dumaresque, a former member of the house of assembly, is taking the resignations in stride.

"I'm not here to be popular. I'm here to be effective, and maybe some people find that difficult," said Dumaresque, who took over the party presidency last June.

Dumaresque said his goal was to clear the party's debt and build enough resources to wage a campaign for the Oct. 9 general election.

'I'm not here to be popular. I'm here to be effective, and maybe some people find that difficult.'—Danny Dumaresque

"I am here to do a job, and I believe I have a certain way of approaching that job," said Dumaresque.

"I challenge people to produce, and whether they have the time or whether they have the capacity to be able to meet some of the requirements I demand are sometimes difficult."

The Liberals have been far behind in tracking polls published since they lost the 2003 general election to the Tories.

For months in early 2006, their internal troubles were the stuff of news headlines — and mocking jokes in the legislature — as the party grappled with the controversial style of lawyer Jim Bennett, who had been acclaimed as leader.

Bennett stepped down as leader in May 2005, after just three months on the job.

The party has been trying to make gains, and in March won a byelection in Humber Valley, a district that had previously been represented by the PCs.