Nats’ demands complicate Liberal leadership speculation
Liberal MPs’ preparations to take a stab at their first female leader are complicated by visceral anger at David Littleproud, who has effectively called for Sussan Ley to be replaced.
A vote to elect Ms Ley is expected to be held at the Liberals’ regular party room meeting when Parliament convenes on February 3.
Opposition defense spokesman Angus Taylor and opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie are seen as his replacements.
Ms Ley’s critics accuse her of a failure of leadership: calling for parliament to be recalled in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, calling Labor’s anti-hate legislation “irredeemable” and eventually backing it.
But insiders are hesitant to move too quickly against Ms Ley for fear of appearing to bow to Mr Littleproud’s demand for a new Liberal leader.
Mr Littleproud, who blasted the political alliance between the Liberals and the National Party on Thursday morning, said he would not return to the coalition while Ms Ley was leader.
“Staying in coalition with the Liberal party led by Sussan Ley has become untenable and cannot continue… Sussan Ley has chosen to retain her leadership rather than continue the coalition,” he said in a statement.
This sparked heated anger among Liberals, who saw the comments as Mr Littleproud’s interference in the Liberals’ domestic politics.
“He throws a tantrum when he doesn’t get what he wants,” one Liberal said of the leader of the National Party.
Party sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while they wanted Ms Ley to leave, they were hesitant to give Mr Littleproud what he wanted.
The anger is unlikely to deter the Liberals from replacing their leader, but it has made the calculus more complicated, especially for Mr Taylor, who has said he wants to avoid getting blood on the hands of insiders.
The opposition defense spokesman is holidaying in Europe, avoiding much of the drama unfolding in Canberra during an emergency session of parliament on Monday and Tuesday.
Mr Hastie, who lives in Western Australia and has young children, also needs to decide whether he is ready to embrace the busy travel schedule of a party leader.
Melbourne’s moderate MP Tim Wilson is also believed to be considering a move to a leader or deputy position.
AAP was told that the candidates were holding talks to gauge support in the party room.
Ms. Ley remained defiant despite the flood of criticism.
Asked on Thursday if he could survive as opposition leader, he said he would.
The Liberals also said National Party leader David Littleproud may need to be sacked to provide a “reset” and allow the two coalition parties to come together again.
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