Liberal leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie has rebuffed a suggestion from Angus Taylor to run as his deputy in a united conservative ticket to topple Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. In a previously unreported phone conversation, the MPs spoke on Thursday as Taylor was in Europe, where he has been for weeks, and Hastie in Perth, according to three sources familiar with the discussion but not authorised to speak about it publicly.
According to a backer of Hastie and another unaligned right-winger, Taylor claimed Hastie could eventually take over as leader if he served for a period as Taylor’s deputy, without being clear about timing. But the suggestion was not taken up, and Hastie made it clear 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, which they were not doing.
Hastie declined to comment about the call when asked by this masthead, while Taylor and his office were contacted for comment. One source close to Taylor said they could not confirm the discussion on a deputy role took place and downplayed it.
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. Taylor had still not returned to Australia as of Saturday afternoon, making it difficult for him to engage in the manoeuvrings.
The problem for both candidates is that many moderates, unaligned centrists and even some right-wingers believe Ley, while severely weakened after the historic Coalition rupture, made the right moves in taking on the Nationals last week.
Silver-Chemistry2023 on
As if two people who delusions of being the most important person in the room could agree in something.
Rizza1122 on
Oh man. What a ticket that would be. Although I’d think thatd put nuclear obrien as deputy/ treasurer and that makes me feel Angus would be better. Such a shit show
tecdaz on
lol. Who’s the ‘moderate’ option now Ley’s listing and being abandoned
BeLakorHawk on
It always amuses me when people fight so hard to be leader of an opposition, and the fight itself means none of them with be leader of the actual Government. (Never win an election.)
Have these clowns not learned anything from the Victorian LNP schemozzle.
Essentially it proves what I think of all politicians. Egotists one and all. So very few of them are in politics for noble reasons.
And yeah, both sides. All you barrackers can wear it.
2for1deal on
Dr Hastie or How to mourn a massacre and make it all about yourself
-Metagross- on
Why on earth would anyone want this job at this time?
Le_Champion on
So the absolute best the LNP can do is replace one bimbo with a pair of morons
BBQShapeshifter on
I’d love for Angus and Andrew to form a ticket and then give themselves some lame-as-fuck nickname to try and appeal to voters.
Taylor + Hastie? It’s gotta be ‘Tastie’
Dranzer_22 on
>ABC: And rumours are running rife.
>”Taylor’s made a promise to Tim Wilson about getting shadow treasurer,” one Liberal insists.
>”McIntosh and Tehan are talking,” says another.
>”Hastie’s ideal deputy is Duniam,” spouts a Liberal.
Hastie is having a rough week.
After voting for the hate speech legislation, attacking his right-wing base, doubling down, and today criticising Trump, his right-wing base thinks he’s a full on lefty.
There must not be much confidence in either Taylor or Hastie, because conservative Legacy Media are floating using the Campbell Newman playbook of Frydenberg being Liberal Leader, with another MP being interim parliamentary leader & Opposition Leader.
Defy19 on
Hastie thinks he has time on his side. Mostly because he believes the earth is 6000 years old.
11 Comments
Liberal leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie has rebuffed a suggestion from Angus Taylor to run as his deputy in a united conservative ticket to topple Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. In a previously unreported phone conversation, the MPs spoke on Thursday as Taylor was in Europe, where he has been for weeks, and Hastie in Perth, according to three sources familiar with the discussion but not authorised to speak about it publicly.
According to a backer of Hastie and another unaligned right-winger, Taylor claimed Hastie could eventually take over as leader if he served for a period as Taylor’s deputy, without being clear about timing. But the suggestion was not taken up, and Hastie made it clear 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, which they were not doing.
Hastie declined to comment about the call when asked by this masthead, while Taylor and his office were contacted for comment. One source close to Taylor said they could not confirm the discussion on a deputy role took place and downplayed it.
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. Taylor had still not returned to Australia as of Saturday afternoon, making it difficult for him to engage in the manoeuvrings.
The problem for both candidates is that many moderates, unaligned centrists and even some right-wingers believe Ley, while severely weakened after the historic Coalition rupture, made the right moves in taking on the Nationals last week.
As if two people who delusions of being the most important person in the room could agree in something.
Oh man. What a ticket that would be. Although I’d think thatd put nuclear obrien as deputy/ treasurer and that makes me feel Angus would be better. Such a shit show
lol. Who’s the ‘moderate’ option now Ley’s listing and being abandoned
It always amuses me when people fight so hard to be leader of an opposition, and the fight itself means none of them with be leader of the actual Government. (Never win an election.)
Have these clowns not learned anything from the Victorian LNP schemozzle.
Essentially it proves what I think of all politicians. Egotists one and all. So very few of them are in politics for noble reasons.
And yeah, both sides. All you barrackers can wear it.
Dr Hastie or How to mourn a massacre and make it all about yourself
Why on earth would anyone want this job at this time?
So the absolute best the LNP can do is replace one bimbo with a pair of morons
I’d love for Angus and Andrew to form a ticket and then give themselves some lame-as-fuck nickname to try and appeal to voters.
Taylor + Hastie? It’s gotta be ‘Tastie’
>ABC: And rumours are running rife.
>”Taylor’s made a promise to Tim Wilson about getting shadow treasurer,” one Liberal insists.
>”McIntosh and Tehan are talking,” says another.
>”Hastie’s ideal deputy is Duniam,” spouts a Liberal.
Hastie is having a rough week.
After voting for the hate speech legislation, attacking his right-wing base, doubling down, and today criticising Trump, his right-wing base thinks he’s a full on lefty.
There must not be much confidence in either Taylor or Hastie, because conservative Legacy Media are floating using the Campbell Newman playbook of Frydenberg being Liberal Leader, with another MP being interim parliamentary leader & Opposition Leader.
Hastie thinks he has time on his side. Mostly because he believes the earth is 6000 years old.