The husband of P.E.I.'s next lieutenant-governor has cut his ties with the provincial Progressive Conservatives and the federal Conservative Party.

Nelson Hagerman told the Charlottetown Guardian he made the decision after his wife Barbara was appointed to the post on Wednesday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Barbara Hagerman will be sworn in a lieutenant-governor at the end of the month. She will replace Leonce Bernard, who has held the job since May 2001.

Nelson Hagerman was treasurer of the P.E.I. Chapter of the Conservative Party of Canada, president of the Winsloe-West Royalty Progressive Conservative Association, and the financial agent for the PC party in the province.

He was one of the first Island Tories to throw his support behind Harper. The Tory leader was on Hagerman's boat in Charlottetown Harbour for the fireworks on Canada Day 2005.