Scott Morrison to rival Peter Dutton should prime ministership become vacant

SCOTT Morrison has emerged as a contender to Peter Dutton should the prime ministership become vacant. Mr Morrison would not challenge Malcolm Turnbull, however he could emerge as a “consensus candidate” to build a bridge between the warring moderate and conservative factions within the Liberal Party.

TREASURER Scott Morrison has emerged as a contender to Peter Dutton should the prime ministership become vacant.

As The Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed today, Mr Morrison is in the running to become a rival candidate to Mr Dutton, who has admitted he is working the phones in a bid to launch another challenge against Malcolm Turnbull.

Scott Morrison will only throw his hat into the ring if the prime ministership became vacant.. Picture: Kym Smith

Malcolm Turnbull fronted the media today with Senator Mathias Cormann, left and Treasurer Scott Morrison, right. Picture: Kym Smith

Mr Morrison would not challenge Mr Turnbull, however he could emerge as a “consensus candidate” to build a bridge between the warring moderate and conservative factions within the Liberal Party.

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If Mr Morrison stood for the leadership, it would split the Right vote, detracting from Mr Dutton’s numbers.

Scott Morrison said he would not challenge Malcolm Turnbull for the leadership. Picture: Kym Smith

Asked by The Daily Telegraph if he had leadership ambitions, Mr Morrison smiled, put his arm around Mr Turnbull and said: “He’s my leader.”

Mr Turnbull replied: “Thanks ScoMo.”

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The Treasurer also criticised Mr Dutton’s idea to lift the GST from electricity bills in certain demographics, calling it a “budget blower” that would cost $7.5 billion.

Peter Dutton is working the phones in a bid to launch another challenge against Malcolm Turnbull Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

At the press-conference, Mr Turnbull announced he had dropped his policy to give company tax cuts to big business after it failed to gain Pauline Hanson’s support in the Senate.

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Mr Turnbull said the coalition would not take the unpopular policy to the next federal election, scrapping the government’s push to lower the company tax rate from 30 to 25 per cent.

“We are going to review our enterprise tax plan insofar as it applies to small and medium businesses,” Mr Turnbull told reporters in Canberra.