Tony Abbott slams Malcolm Turnbull, believes he could be PM again

Tony Abbott is reportedly keen to be back on the Coalition’s front bench after next year’s election and won’t rule out a push to be party leader or PM again.

Former Liberal Prime Minister and current member for Warringah Tony Abbott. Picture: Britta Campion

Tony Abbott believes he could return as Liberal Party leader and potentially be prime minister again one day.

The Weekend Australian asked the Warringah MP whether he could ever see himself in those roles.

“I don’t rule any of those things out,” Mr Abbott said. “I’m 61, which is not old. I’m Australia’s best-known backbencher.”

Former prime minister Tony Abbott. Picture: AAP

Mr Abbott will first have to hang onto his Sydney seat however and is facing a tough fight with a number of northern beaches groups trying to oust him.

If he is successful in holding onto his seat and serious about one day being leader again he will no doubt face tough opposition for the position from others such as Julie Bishop or Josh Frydenberg.

Julie Bishop. Picture: AAP

Josh Frydenberg. Picture: Kym Smith

The former PM also went on the attack against rival Malcolm Turnbull, saying he was the “real author of his own demise” by pushing an unpopular national energy guarantee policy.

He accused Mr Turnbull of trying to turn the Liberal Party into “a pale imitation of Labor”.

Tony Abbott says Malcolm Turnbull was “the real author of his own demise”. Picture: Supplied

“He wanted to turn us into Labor without the unions, and I think that is unacceptable to the vast majority of Liberal Party members. Our job is to be a party of the sensible right, not a pale imitation of Labor.”

To read more go to The Weekend Australian

Originally published as Tony Abbott slams Malcolm Turnbull, believes he could be PM again