Brian Mulroney supporting the merger at a time when former PC leaders Joe Clark, Jean Charest and Kim Campbell either opposed it or expressed ambivalence. Military historians Norman Hillmer and J.L. Granatstein ranked Mulroney eighth among Canada's prime ministers in their 1999 book "Prime Ministers: Ranking Canada's Leaders". On March 31, 2009 it was reported by various news outlets that a Conservative official claimed Mulroney was no longer a member of the party. They claimed his membership expired in 2006 and was not renewed. Additionally, Mulroney allegedly "called a senior party official two months ago to ask that his name be pulled
Electoral history of Brian Mulroney House of Commons was the largest in Canadian history, passing the record set by John Diefenbaker in 1958. He again led the Progressive Conservatives to the polls in the 1988 general election and was returned to power, but with a reduced majority. Mulroney stood for election to the House of Commons three times, once in a by-election after he was elected party leader, and twice in general elections. He was elected each time, with substantial majorities. Mulroney announced his retirement from politics in 1993 and was succeeded as prime minister and leader of the Progressive Conservatives by Kim Campbell. Mulroney