Key Takeaways:
- Andrew Hastie has rejected Angus Taylor’s suggestion to run as his deputy in a united conservative ticket to challenge Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
- Hastie is being encouraged to run by a group of right-wing MPs and has clear majority support in the right faction.
- Taylor is gaining more support among moderates, but Hastie’s backers believe he can win over the party leadership.
- Ley is trying to hold on to her leadership position despite being severely weakened after the historic Coalition rupture.
- The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has taken rash actions, which has led to calls for a spill, but Ley’s allies believe the rebels have misjudged the situation.
Introduction to the Leadership Crisis
The Liberal Party is facing a leadership crisis, with Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor emerging as potential challengers to Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. In a previously unreported phone conversation, Taylor suggested that Hastie run as his deputy in a united conservative ticket to topple Ley. However, Hastie rejected the offer, making it clear that he was being encouraged to run by a group of right-wing MPs and would only be dissuaded from doing so if colleagues actively talked him out of it.
The Conversation Between Hastie and Taylor
According to sources familiar with the discussion, Taylor claimed that Hastie could eventually take over as leader if he served for a period as Taylor’s deputy, without being clear about timing. However, Hastie declined to comment about the call when asked, while Taylor and his office were contacted for comment, with one source close to Taylor downplaying the discussion. The conversation took place while Taylor was in Europe and Hastie was in Perth, and it is unclear what the next steps will be for the two MPs.
The Support for Hastie and Taylor
Hastie’s backers believe he has clear majority support in the right faction, but Taylor is winning more support among moderates who, if forced to choose, would choose him over the more hardline candidate in Hastie. The pair are due to talk again in coming days to try to resolve the stalemate, which benefits Ley and points to a possibility she may remain in the job in a weakened state for a while longer until the right can come to an agreement.
Ley’s Strategy
The under-pressure opposition leader has spent the past 48 hours speaking to colleagues, expressing calm and confidence about the leadership situation, which they feel is being overhyped by troublemakers. Ley has been speaking to former prime minister John Howard multiple times a day as he advises her on the crisis with the Nationals. She is not planning to reshuffle her shadow ministry to put Liberals in the positions vacated by Nationals until Littleproud announces his unofficial "shadow, shadow cabinet" some time next week.
The Nationals’ Role
The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has taken rash actions, which has led to calls for a spill, but Ley’s allies believe the rebels have misjudged the situation. The under-pressure opposition leader is trying to hold on to her leadership position despite being severely weakened after the historic Coalition rupture. Those Nationals who want to keep the Coalition alive are unwilling to topple Littleproud, which would be the condition of reunifying for many aggrieved Liberals.
The Future of the Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is facing a difficult time, with the leadership crisis and the Coalition rupture causing uncertainty and instability. The party needs to come together and find a way to move forward, but it is unclear what the future holds. The conversation between Hastie and Taylor is just the beginning of a long and complicated process, and it will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds in the coming days and weeks. The party’s ability to resolve its internal conflicts and present a united front will be crucial in determining its success in the future.