Tony Abbott not giving up on being prime minister again: Still ‘in mourning’ over loss

EXCLUSIVE: Bill Shorten sounded one of the first alarms as it was revealed Tony Abbott is not only planning to run again for the seat of Warringah but he also harbours hopes of returning as PM.

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FORMER Prime Minister Tony Abbott is expected to run again for the seat of Warringah at this year’s federal election and is holding on to hopes of one day making a return to the Lodge.

Liberal sources have told The Daily Telegraph he is being urged by his ­former chief of staff Peta Credlin to have another crack in the hope he might reclaim the top job. Mr Abbott has been Member for Warringah since 1994.

Mr Abbott, who did not return calls, is said to be “in mourning” over his loss of the prime ministership.

An emotional Tony Abbott makes his last speech as Prime Minister on September 2015 after being ousted by Liberal leader by Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: Kym Smith.

He is said to have ­ambitions that he can mount a comeback like former ­Liberal prime ministers John Howard and Robert Menzies.

He is also understood to have made it clear he does not want to be bought off with a diplomatic posting like Joe Hockey, Liberal Party sources said.

“He appears from what people are saying to be quite bitter, quite resentful, in fact I think it’s got worse,” a Liberal powerbroker said.

The Australian meanwhile is reporting that Malcolm Turnbull, in the US to meet with President Barack Obama, is facing a preselection civil war.

The Liberal Party opened nominations for 22 NSW seats yesterday with fears that attempts to jettison incumbent MPs risked created instability.

According to the Australian, Hughes MP Craig Kelly attempted to seek reassurance from Mr Turnbull that he had his support in the face of a preselection challenge from former mayor Kent Johns. Last night, Scott Morrison told The Australian he would back Mr Kelly, whose electorate borders the Treasurer’s.

One Liberal meanwhile speculated Mr Abbott had hopes of ­regaining the leadership, or perhaps a ministry like ­defence. “It’s very hard to find a (private sector) job for a former PM so young,” one Liberal said ­yesterday.

Kent Johns is challenging Kelly for the seat of Hughes.

Liberal MP for Hughes Craig Kelly in his southern Sydney electorate.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten quickly latched on this morning, dubbing Abbott a “Terminator”.

“I don’t know about you, but like many Australians share the relief that Tony Abbott’s gone although I notice today that a bit like the Terminator, he’s vowing to have Tony Abbott 2.0, he will be back,” Mr Shorten told ABC radio in Cairns.

But Mr Abbott has been told by Mr Howard and cabinet secretary Arthur Sinodinos to pull his head in, keep his counsel and not make ­comments critical of, or contrary to, government policy in recent months, Liberal sources said.

When it was put to Mr Howard that he had given such advice to Mr Abbott, he said: “I don’t have any observation on that. I don’t care to comment.”

Bronwyn Bishop, 73, is digging in to run again in the seat of Mackellar, despite calls for her to move on.

Ms Bishop is likely to face a preselection challenge from Transport Minister Andrew Constance’s deputy chief of staff Jason Falinski.

Another eyeing the seat is Amanda Rawnsley, a former diplomat who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Peta Credlin is said to be urging Tony Abbott to run for Warringah again.

Bronwyn Bishop is digging in to run again in the seat of Mackellar.

It is believed Ms Bishop has made it clear she would only go if upper house MP Natasha MacLaren-Jones was guaranteed preselection for her seat.

The seat had been earmarked for Ms Bishop’s former chief of staff, Ms MacLaren-Jones’ husband Damien Jones, but he was damaged by Ms Bishop’s chopper expenses scandal. It is thought were Ms MacLaren-Jones to move to Mackellar, Mr Jones would then take her upper house spot.

Ms Bishop dismissed this yesterday saying she intended to run again for preselection and that Ms MacLaren-Jones was not ­intending to run for the seat.

In Berowra, veteran Liberal Phillip Ruddock is expected to pull up stumps for former Menzies Research centre boss Julian Leeser.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes’ chief of staff Tony Chappel also wants the seat. And Senator Bill Heffernan is tipped to pull the pin with Hollie Hughes favoured to take his Senate spot.