Tim Wilson withdraws from running for Liberal leadership citing it is not his time

Liberal MPs will today vote in what’s shaping as a title bout between the more moderate deputy leader Sussan Ley and more conservative shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.

“I have not canvassed any colleagues, but some have reached out to me on their initiative, and Jason Falinski has made his view extremely clear.”

But last night Wilson withdrew from the race, issuing a call for unity.

“Nationally, I have the firm belief that we can win in three years. Not six. Three,” he wrote on Facebook.

“I won’t be a candidate for leader tomorrow – it’s not my time. 

“But I will be giving all my energies to whoever wins, to replicate what we did in Goldstein across our party.”

He didn’t endorse either leadership candidate but threw his support behind a continuation of the Coalition’s controversial nuclear energy policy, along with a focus on addressing inflation and housing affordability.

Nine political editor Charles Croucher had earlier flagged Wilson’s comments as potential manoeuvring to secure a top role in the shadow cabinet.

“There are plenty you speak to from all sides of the Liberal Party that would like to see him come in to the frontbench, be it as an economic portfolio, perhaps shadow treasurer or some other big role,” he told Today this morning.

“It’s a great honour to lead our great party,” Littleproud said after the vote, arguing the leadership challenge was “healthy for our democracy”.

Nationals Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price last week defected to sit with the Liberals and has since announced she is running as deputy leader under Taylor.