Andrew Hastie has definitively ruled out contesting the leadership of the Liberal Party, a move that significantly clears the path for fellow right-winger Angus Taylor to mount a challenge against the incumbent leader, Sussan Ley. This announcement ends a week of intense speculation and internal party manoeuvring, highlighting the ongoing instability within the opposition ranks.
Hastie Concedes Lack of Support
In a statement released on Friday, Hastie acknowledged that after extensive consultations with colleagues over the past week, it was clear he did not possess the necessary support to become leader of the Liberal Party. "I've previously stated that I would welcome the opportunity to serve my party and our country as leader of the Liberal party," Hastie said. "But having consulted with colleagues over the past week and respecting their honest feedback to me, it is clear that I do not have the support needed to become leader. On this basis, I wish to make it clear I will not be contesting the leadership."
Taylor's Impending Challenge
Following Hastie's withdrawal, a source close to Angus Taylor indicated that a leadership challenge was now a "question of when, not if". However, multiple sources have suggested that Taylor will not push for an immediate leadership spill when federal parliament resumes on Tuesday, opting instead for a more strategic timing. The two men had met face-to-face in Melbourne on Thursday but were unable to reach an agreement on who should challenge Ley, reflecting the deep divisions and tactical calculations within the party's right faction.
Ley's Ultimatum to the Nationals
Hastie's announcement comes on the same day that Sussan Ley issued an eight-day ultimatum to the Nationals to reunite the Coalition. Ley has assigned former Nationals portfolios to existing Liberal shadow ministers in an acting capacity for the upcoming sitting week. She stated that if the Coalition is not formally reformed by 9th February, she will proceed with a Liberal-only frontbench, promoting six MPs to shadow cabinet and two to the outer shadow ministry. This decision was endorsed at a meeting of Ley's Liberal leadership team, which includes Angus Taylor, underscoring the complex dynamics at play.
Background of Leadership Tensions
The current leadership tensions stem from Ley's narrow victory over Angus Taylor in the leadership contest following last year's federal election, where she secured 29 votes to Taylor's 25. This latest development represents the second significant split within the Coalition in just eight months, raising questions about the opposition's cohesion and electoral strategy moving forward. The impasse between Hastie and Taylor, now resolved by Hastie's withdrawal, had threatened to prolong the party's internal strife, but it appears to have merely shifted the focus to Taylor's anticipated challenge.
As the Liberal Party navigates this period of uncertainty, all eyes will be on Angus Taylor's next moves and whether Sussan Ley can consolidate her position amidst growing pressure from within her own ranks. The coming weeks are likely to be critical for the opposition's stability and its preparedness to contest the next election.
