The former chief of staff to Gordon Campbell says Premier Christy Clark should resign as premier over the "egregious and nefarious" ethnic outreach plan, arguing that she has lost the confidence of British Columbians -- and that her departure would give the B.C. Liberal Party a chance to regain some public trust and cut its losses in the upcoming election.

"Do the honourable thing to uphold the integrity of your office," urged Martyn Brown, in an analysis released Monday. He said that the leaked strategy to use government programs to win electoral support in the South Asian and Chinese-Canadian communities has "gravely" undermined confidence in Clark's government and in the B.C. Liberal Party.

"However, politically inept, naïve, ignorant and downright stupid it surely was -- on so many levels -- it has caused enormous harm to the government and most of all, to the very communities targeted by the 'strategy.' It has also irreparably hurt the premier, whose reaction to the issue to date has further damaged her waning credibility."

The long-time lieutenant to former premier Campbell said that the BC Liberals face a massive election defeat in May -- and he urged Clark to "admit that it's over, resign and give your government and your party a fighting chance at re-earning some public trust and confidence."

Brown said that Clark "in her heart of hearts" must realize that her leadership is not working.

"Not for her party. Not for her caucus and candidates. And not for the people of our province, who want, expect and deserve so much better from the office she serves."

Brown added that he has little expectation that Clark will take his advice and step down. "Sometimes governments have an innate death wish that is acted upon in contorted rationality."

Brown, who has been a sharp critic of Clark since she took over from his former boss, said that there is no "plausible scenario" in which the B.C. Liberals can avoid a huge loss in the election.

But Clark's resignation would give the party a chance to regroup to fight another day, said the veteran B.C. Liberal insider. Brown said that real leadership "demands game-changing action that is minimally aimed at sparing as many lives as possible and at showing noble intent.

"Under the present circumstances, that demands a change in leadership, which in any event, is certain to be dispensed by the voters on May 14. It is never a good thing when it is obvious to all that the party leader will not even win back her own seat. That prospect alone speaks volumes about Premier Clark's current crisis of confidence."

Brown said that Campbell and former NDP premier Mike Harcourt showed with their resignations that "it is always possible to facilitate a smooth transition in leadership if that individual is prepared to put the public interest ahead of their own private interest in holding onto power at any cost."

He also attacked Clark for appointing her deputy minister, John Dyble, the head of the public service, to lead the probe into the ethnic outreach scandal.

"It is plainly a conflict of interest and also a political error to ask the deputy minister to the premier to preside over an investigation into the conduct of individuals within the Premier's Office that might also engage the premier's conduct.

"The premier appoints that deputy, who serves at her pleasure. All of the other deputies now engaged in the current "investigation" report to him. It is untenable for those individuals to be put in the position of supposedly investigating the Premier's Office and also, potentially, their own boss."

Editor's note: Brown's full analysis is posted on regular Tyee columnist Bill Tieleman's blog here.

Tyee election reporting team member Doug Ward is a Vancouver freelance writer formerly with the Vancouver Sun.