Alberta's United Conservative Party won't have a new leader until almost the end of October.

Until then, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper will sit in as interim leader.

Members of the legacy Wildrose and Progressive Conservative caucuses held their first joint meeting as United Conservatives Monday in Edmonton and chose Cooper to steer the ship while the leadership campaign goes on in the background.

So far,  Jason Kenney, Brian Jean  and Doug Schweitzer have put their names forward for the leadership.