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In what was the worst kept secret in Alberta politics, Wildrose MLA Derek Fildebrandt has let it be known he will toss his hat into the ring for leadership of the new United Conservative Party – provided, of course, the United Conservative Party actually becomes a thing.

In this, Fildebrandt becomes the fourth almost-declared candidate for leadership of a yet-to-be formed party.

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The others are Wildrose Leader Brian Jean, Progressive Conservative Leader Jason Kenney and Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer — with more hat-tossers likely to come.

The leadership race can’t officially start until members of both the Wildrose and PCs vote in favour of a merger deal July 22.

Another worst kept secret is that there are members of both parties who despise each other and will vote for a merger with one hand while holding their nose with the other.

And here’s another badly kept secret — there are members within each party who don’t particularly like other members of their own party.