The race for the Liberal leadership is becoming bitter as Angus Taylor’s allies dismiss speculation he is poised to pull out and clear the path for Sussan Ley to lead the party rebuild after Saturday’s election disaster.
It comes as Peter Dutton made his first brief remarks since his concession speech on Saturday night, saying he intended to make a “graceful exit” from politics.
The shadow treasurer was on Tuesday reported to be considering abandoning a tilt at succeeding Dutton as Ley appeared to firm as the frontrunner in the contest.
But Guardian Australia has confirmed Taylor was still in the race as of Wednesday afternoon, setting the stage for a contested leadership ballot as soon as next week.
The tensions between Ley and Taylor’s camps are boiling over, with claims both frontbenchers spent the final weeks of the campaign quietly building support for a leadership tilt, including by visiting candidates expected to win and therefore join the party room.
The subterranean campaign was part of Ley and her office’s ongoing attempts to “undermine” Dutton over recent months, according to her internal critics, which allegedly included the leaking of talking points that exposed the Coalition’s mixed-messaging on policies.
Several Liberal sources said Ley deliberately distanced herself from Dutton’s chaotic campaign, although others said she was frozen out.
Ley’s office was contacted for comment.
Taylor has faced a barrage of internal criticism as the architect of the Coalition’s thin economic agenda and decision to oppose Labor’s tax cuts on budget night.
Outgoing Liberal senator Hollie Hughes – who has publicly endorsed Ley for the leadership – unleashed on Taylor earlier this week, questioning what he had done over the past three years and expressing “concerns about his capability”.
Taylor’s allies have privately argued the shadow treasurer pushed for bolder policies but was stymied by Dutton.
Dutton declined to comment on his potential successor in his first public comments since his concession speech on Saturday night.
“The best model that I’ve seen is where (former) leaders make a graceful exit from politics and maintain their graceful silence,” he told reporters as he exited Canberra Airport on Wednesday afternoon.
“So that will be my model.”
Liberal moderates have swung in behind Ley, who also has support from parts of the centre-right faction.
An experienced former cabinet minister, Ley would be the first female federal Liberal leader at the time the party is struggling to appeal to women.
Guardian Australia understands Alex Hawke – a centre-right power broker and former Scott Morrison numbers man – is helping to rally support for Ley.
Taylor has the support of the right faction, which held sway under Dutton.
Dan Tehan is the third contender, although talk surrounding the shadow immigration minister has turned to him as either Taylor or Ley’s deputy.
The leadership tussle is expected to ramp up once the makeup of the Liberal party room is finalised after the final seats are decided.
On Wednesday, Liberal Tim Wilson claimed victory in Goldstein, while Gisele Kapterian is ahead in the tight race for Bradfield.
The party could also take back Kooyong, with Amelia Hamer now within 622 votes of Monique Ryan as the counting of postal votes continues.
Wilson – a moderate – could be in line for a position in the Coalition’s new frontbench after serving as an assistant energy minister in the final months of the Morrison government.
Asked on Wednesday if he held leadership ambitions, Wilson talked up his economic credentials.
“It is not a shock to anybody that I have a deep interest in economic policy,” he said.
“Last time I was in federal parliament some would say I overused the economics committee, but nonetheless I used it very assertively because I look at the challenges this country faces right now and the scale and a sense of urgency, and nothing has changed.
“In fact, it has become more substantial.”
