Barnaby Joyce has announced that he will not seek re-election for his New England seat, signaling his departure from the Nationals due to what he described as an “irreparable breakdown” in relations.

Amidst speculation that Pauline Hanson of One Nation is attempting to recruit Joyce, Nationals leader David Littleproud has downplayed the certainty of Joyce’s exit from the party.

“We’re going to speak with Barnaby. It’s important that his contributions are recognized and valued within our party framework, as is the case for every member,” Littleproud stated on the Today show.

He further emphasized, “We hope he remains with The National Party.”

“I believe he has a significant role to play between now and when he eventually steps down,” Littleproud added.

When asked if he might try and persuade Joyce to change his mind, the party leader said he would give it a crack.

But he emphasised Joyce is still a member of the Nationals.

”Well, of course, he was elected a National Party member,” he added.

“He, like the other 18 members of the party room, including me, all have a voice. And that voice is important to be in the collective.”

Joyce put out a statement yesterday after rumours circulated he was switching parties to join One Nation.

“My relationship with the leadership of the Nationals in Canberra has unfortunately, like a sadness in some marriages, irreparably broken down,” he said.

“The instructions that during the federal election I was not to campaign outside New England as that did not represent the views of the Nationals, then after the election being moved on for ‘generational change’ and just the atmospherics in the party room, where I am seated in the far corner of the Coalition in the chamber, means I am seen and now turning into a discordant note.

“That is not who I want to be.”

The New England MP said his policy rift with the Nationals is largely around net zero.

Joyce has stopped short of saying whether he would defect to Hanson’s conservative party.

Hanson, speaking from Joyce’s hometown of Tamworth today, tried to encourage him to make the move to her party.

“Barnaby, I’ll open the doors for you. Come across to One Nation,” she told 9News.

”Barnaby is more aligned with One Nation than what he is with the Nationals Party.”