New North Shore MP Felicity Wilson is being ‘deliberately undermined’ by fellow Liberals

A HIGH-level Liberal source claims North Shore MP Felicity Wilson is being white anted from within party ranks and that a campaign to undermine her is “deliberate”.

Recently-elected North Shore MP Felicity Wilson. Picture: Adam Ward

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A HIGH-level Liberal source claims North Shore MP Felicity Wilson is being deliberately undermined from within party ranks.

The newly elected MP has been the subject of intense scrutiny with the latest media reports delving into her claims she had held two undergraduate degrees.

“Someone is deliberately trying to undermine Felicity from within the Liberal party,” the source said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian with Felicity Wilson and North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson on the day of the North Shore by-election.

Ms Wilson issued an apology last week for errors she had made on forms several years ago.

Fairfax media reported that in 2013 Ms Wilson said she had a double degree from Macquarie University.

This was on nomination forms for Liberal party positions.

She has since clarified that she began an arts degree in 2001 but later decided to also study subjects for a media degree.

She explained that she graduated with a Bachelor of Media but could have chosen to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts instead. She apologised unreservedly for any errors on her forms.

The report follows scrutiny of her residential history after she said she had lived on the north shore for 10 years.

Jilly Gibson says Felicity Wilson’s opponents need to stop ‘white anting’ the MP.

She also tripped up when she said in a Facebook post that her first vote in 2001 was for John Howard.

“I won’t be distracted by background noise,” Ms Wilson told the Mosman Daily.

“I’m getting on with the job the people of North Shore elected me to do.”

Ms Wilson has also gathered the public support of North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson. She paid tribute to the MP’s work ethic, pointing out she goes to meetings at the council.

“All I have seen is hard work,” Ms Gibson said.

“Her opponents need to stop white-anting her.

Former PM Tony Abbott and current PM Malcolm Turnbull are involved in a bitter stoush for the hearts and minds of the Federal Liberal party.

“Her opponents intend to distract her from doing her job. Felicity is smarter than they all are.”

The Liberal party is no stranger to infighting.

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At the federal level the infighting within the Liberal party has become a public battle between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Warringah MP Tony Abbott.

Mr Abbott has made speeches in which he criticised the party.

Turnbull recently hit back taking a swipe at his predecessor by calling for builders “not wreckers” in the party, and saying people were sick of politics.