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“We must face the facts: the Liberal Party is experiencing its greatest challenge since its inception in 1944,” Taylor remarked, highlighting the urgent situation that cannot be overlooked.
He expressed doubts about Sussan Ley’s capability to guide the party effectively in these trying times.
This morning, Liberal frontbencher Claire Chandler stepped down from Ley’s team, with several of Taylor’s allies expected to do the same.
Speculation is rife that an official leadership challenge could be initiated as early as today or tomorrow.
If the challenge proceeds, the party will convene to discuss a leadership vote, potentially setting the stage for a pivotal decision.
If it’s seconded and supported by a majority, nominations for leader will be opened and another vote will be called to decide who takes over, or if Ley stays.
The party tightened rules in 2018 in response to a revolving door of leaders to require a two-thirds majority to expel a sitting elected prime minister. But that doesn’t apply in this case, meaning a simple majority is enough.
Declarations of support for either Liberal from their colleagues were thin on the ground last night but reporting suggested more resignations could be coming this week.
Right-wing Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was unsurprisingly quick to come out in support of Taylor, telling Sky News the party would be “wiped out” without a change.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that I’ll be backing Angus Taylor and I will be backing a move for a change of leadership,” she said.
Moderate Liberal MP Tim Wilson said he would “support the leader” but declined to pledge his explicit backing to Ley in a future leadership vote.
“Well, as I’ve said, if you want loyalty, you have to show loyalty, and I believe in loyalty very much as a foundation for trust,” he told ABC’s 7.30.
“And off the back of that, I will then be going on, of course, as processes go on, to make sure that I’m making the decision in the best interests of the Liberal Party.
“But I’ve said that, you know, I support the leader.”
South Australian MP Tony Pasin expressed his support for Taylor.
“Look the reality is something had to change,” he said.
“And I just went and saw Angus then and said, I’m proud of him. It takes real courage.
“We can’t keep doing what we’ve always done if we want different results, right?”
Queensland LNP MP Garth Hamilton said he was glad the issue had been “brought to a head”.
“We clearly need to address these issues. They’ve been playing out for far too long publicly,” he said.
“I think it’s an important part of democratic process.”
Nine national affairs editor Andrew Probyn said many Liberals were angry Ley hadn’t had a fair crack at the leadership while others were prepared to back Taylor but suspected he didn’t have what it took to take on Labor.
“What was striking about Angus Taylor tonight was that he didn’t announce any new policy direction at this stage, the main policy is simply that he wants to be leader now,” he said.
“That may change tomorrow. Perhaps he’ll give his colleagues a better pitch, but for liberals voting in a leadership ballot, the biggest question is whether they stick with Sussan Ley.
“I’m told that the numbers remain tight, neither side entirely confident, but even Lee’s supporters want this damaging squabble sorted out one way or the other.”
If a Sky News Pulse poll by YouGov is to be believed, voters don’t really want Taylor or Ley in charge of the Liberal Party.
But the damning result for the party didn’t even have a name to it, with 60 per cent of voters saying they didn’t know who should lead it.
Among Liberal voters, Hastie’s lead was starker (25 per cent compared to 12 and 11 per cent for Ley and Taylor).
The latest Newspoll released on Monday saw the Coalition’s primary vote slide to 18 per cent, now behind Labor at 33 per cent and One Nation on 27 per cent.
The Liberal primary vote was just 15 per cent.
A leadership spill has been looming after a tumultuous period for the Liberals.
The Coalition split last month when three Nationals senators voted against the government’s hate groups bill and were sacked from the frontbench.
Although the parties have since come back together, there have been growing concerns that One Nation has overtaken the Liberals in opinion polls and Ley’s personal preferred prime minister polls have tanked.
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