Former Liberal MP Craig Kelly joins Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party

Former Liberal MP Craig Kelly will lead Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party at the next election on a platform of ending lockdowns.

Controversial Hughes MP Craig Kelly will lead Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party at the next election on a platform of ending lockdowns.

Speaking in Canberra Monday, Kelly – who left the Liberals earlier this year over his promotion of alternative Covid therapies and his defence of a staffer accused of various indecency-related offences – said that “someone has to lead a fightback”, adding that he expects the party to run candidates in all 151 federal seats.

Craig Kelly announces his leadership of the United Australia Party. Picture: Rohan Thomson/Getty Images

“The UAP will be fighting to end the lockdowns and offer an alternative approach to the current mayhem and destruction that is the policy of both the Liberal and Labor Party,” Kelly said.

“We will put freedom over fear, we will put liberty over lockdowns.”

And, indicating the substantial backing of Clive Palmer, Kelly added that the party “will be well resourced. Very well resourced.”

In 2019, the UAP also ran candidates in all electorates but failed to get a single one nominated, receiving a total nationwide primary vote of 3.4 per cent.

Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer.

The UAP now joins the Liberal Democrats – who have recently been joined by a number of high-profile former Liberals such as Queensland’s Campbell Newman – as the second minor party to run on a platform of ending lockdowns and opening Australia.

Kelly’s Liberal preselection for the 2019 election was saved after an intervention by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who intervened on his behalf after a push by moderates to unseat him.

Frank Zumbo pictured as he leaves the Surry Hills police centre. Picture: Damian Shaw

Though he went on to hold the seat by a large margin, in the past two years Kelly has been the subject of a number of controversies including his advocacy of Covid treatments like hydroxychloroquine as well as his continued support for his staffer, Frank Zumbo.

In June, Zumbo was charged with a number of criminal charges including aggravated sexual touching and aggravated indecent assault.

Originally published as Former Liberal MP Craig Kelly joins Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party