LNP hierarchy move to shield MP Andrew Laming from preselection challenge
THE Liberal National Party hierarchy has moved to shield federal MP Andrew Laming from a challenge and has suspended party members who called for him to be dumped. But the trio could face much worse.
QLD Politics
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THE Liberal National Party hierarchy has moved to shield federal MP Andrew Laming from a challenge and has suspended party members who called for him to be dumped.
In a swift rebuke aimed at killing off the move against another Turnbull Government MP, the LNP suspended three members of Mr Laming’s local branch after they criticised him in an email to supporters.
The three people — Shaun Edwards, Paul Field and Suzie Foster — have lost their positions on the executive of Mr Laming’s Federal Divisional Council and will face a further investigation that could see them expelled from the party.
The Courier-Mail yesterday revealed the trio called for Mr Laming to be disendorsed in a scathing missive to members of his local branch.
The trio warned the “maverick” MP — who recently called for teachers to work longer hours and take fewer holidays — had become a liability for the Turnbull Government.
They wrote in the email: “We feel that his behaviour has now reached a level that will be harmful at the upcoming election.”
Mr Laming’s local branch will hold an AGM today at which the dissenters will be stripped of their roles because their membership is suspended.
Some party figures claimed the trio did not renominate for their positions and had lost support of the branch.
In the email, they said they “would all stand down from our positions, effective immediately” if Mr Laming won the preselection when a vote is held later this year.
Mr Laming is the second Turnbull Government member to face a preselection challenge in Queensland after assistant minister Jane Prentice was last month rolled by Brisbane City councillor Julian Simmonds.
LNP president Gary Spence said the mass email was a breach of party rules designed to protect members’ contact details.
“The LNP take the misuse of membership lists very seriously,” Mr Spence told The Courier-Mail.
“The three people concerned have had their membership suspended pending further consideration by state executive.”
Petrie MP Luke Howarth defended Mr Laming saying he was an experienced campaigner who would easily hold his seat. “But I encourage them to give Andrew another go. He’s a very good grassroots campaigner. He’s taught me a thing or two.
“Ultimately its up to the FDC members who they choose as their local candidate,” Mr Howarth said.
Local businessman Scott Lewis, who is not a party member, told The Courier-Mail he helped Mr Laming doorknock during two past campaigns because he was impressed by him.
Mr Lewis said there was a “fringe group” in the local area who opposed Mr Laming but he was well known and popular.
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