Victorian 2018 state election: Matthew Guy quits Liberal leadership after landslide election

Matthew Guy has resigned as Opposition Leader after Saturday’s thumping election defeat for the Liberals in Victoria.

Matthew Guy has resigned as Opposition Leader after Saturday’s thumping election defeat.

After taking several days to mull his options, Mr Guy said this morning that he would not seek to continue as Liberal leader.

“Now that the parliamentary party has been called together, they will elect a new leadership team,” Mr Guy said in a statement.

Matthew Guy concedes defeat in the Victorian state election. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling

Shadow Treasurer Michael O’Brien and Shadow Attorney-General John Pesutto are the leading candidates to take over, although Mr Pesutto is still under threat of losing his seat of Hawthorn as counting continues.

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Mr Guy congratulated Premier Daniel Andrews and Labor for their election victory.

“I would like to place on record my deep appreciation for the hard work of all my Liberal members in the last parliament. They were the most unified team of any parliamentary party in Australia,” Mr Guy said.

“I also want to thank and acknowledge the work of so many Liberal candidates, the state secretariat and my own personal staff. They have given up so much and worked so hard.”

Mr Andrews said he understood the toll leadership could take on family life and wished his former rival the best.

“I have been opposition leader and I know that is not an easy job.

“I can share with him and we can understand, given the roles we played, is tough on families, it is not easy.

“Whatever the future holds for him I only wish him good things.”

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