Angus Taylor Prepares to Resign from Shadow Cabinet for Leadership Challenge
Senior Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor is expected to resign from the shadow cabinet on Wednesday, clearing the way for him to formally challenge Sussan Ley for the leadership of the Liberal Party. Under strict party rules, frontbenchers cannot retain their roles if they oppose the current leader, compelling Taylor to step down before launching his bid.
High-Stakes Leadership Contest Looms
Taylor is widely anticipated to announce his leadership challenge by Friday, with a party-room ballot scheduled for the same day. This sets the stage for a dramatic and high-stakes contest between Taylor and incumbent leader Sussan Ley, who has indicated she will not resign voluntarily. Consequently, only a formal challenge can remove her from the leadership position.
The resignation of Taylor could potentially trigger further departures from the shadow cabinet. Shadow finance minister James Paterson and shadow home affairs minister Jonno Duniam are also expected to step down if they refuse to pledge their support for Ley, adding to the internal turmoil within the party.
Polling Collapse Shifts Momentum
For several weeks, many MPs doubted whether Taylor had sufficient support to mount a credible challenge, arguing that merely changing leaders would not address the Coalition's persistently poor polling numbers. However, the latest Newspoll, released on Sunday, has dramatically altered the internal dynamics.
The poll revealed the Coalition's primary vote has collapsed to a historic low of 18 per cent, intensifying internal anger and shifting momentum decisively toward Taylor. This alarming figure has galvanised those seeking change, despite ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of a leadership switch.
Internal Negotiations and Deputy Leadership Speculation
Even before Taylor officially nominates for the leadership, internal negotiations have already commenced regarding who would serve as his deputy should he emerge victorious. Incumbent deputy Ted O'Brien is currently considered the frontrunner, largely because rival factions have struggled to unite behind an alternative candidate.
Others within the party are advocating for moderate senator Jane Hume, arguing that her inclusion could help Taylor appeal more broadly across the Liberal Party's diverse factions. Hume, however, has publicly expressed caution, warning on Monday that if the party's decline continues unabated, changing leaders alone would make no substantive difference.
'I don't know who's left. At this point, we're talking about a leadership contest between Sussan Ley and Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor. None of them will have seats after the next election if this continues, so something's got to give,' Hume stated, highlighting the profound challenges facing the party.
The impending leadership contest underscores a period of significant instability and strategic recalibration for the Liberal Party, as it grapples with dire polling and internal divisions ahead of the next election.
