Peter Dutton in box seat to replace Scott Morrison as Liberal leader despite tight race in seat of Dickson

Peter Dutton is at the head of the queue to take on the leadership of the Liberal Party after he last night claimed victory in the marginal seat of Dickson following a tight rematch with Labor’s Ali France.

Peter Dutton is in the box seat to take on the leadership of the Liberal Party after he last night claimed victory in the marginal seat of Dickson following a tight rematch with Labor’s Ali France.

The LNP’s most senior MP in Queensland was keeping coy on Saturday about whether he would make a tilt for the party’s top job if the Coalition lost the election.

As of 11pm Saturday, the Australian Electoral Commission was reporting Mr Dutton was leading Ms France 52.9 – 47.1 per cent on a two party preferred basis, after suffering a swing against him.

The likely victory in Dickson for Mr Dutton puts him in the box seat to take on the Liberal leadership following the Coalition’s disastrous result, with potential rival Josh Frydenberg likely to lose his seat.

Defence Minister and Federal Liberal member for Dickson, Peter Dutton arrives at his party in Brendale. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Addressing his supporters at his election party last night, Mr Dutton paid tribute to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Mr Frydenberg and the rest of his Coalition team.

“This has been a united team and we have worked day and night through the last couple of years of great difficulty for our country,” he said.

Mr Dutton said the “Liberal family” had suffered a “terrible day”, saying “good people” had potentially lost their seats – but he did not bring up the leadership of the party.

The latest two party-preferred vote from the AEC showed Mr Dutton was ahead of Ms France with a 2.87 per cent margin.

“One thing that we know how to do in Dickson is campaign,” Mr Dutton said – as he suggested he looked forward to helping his community for another three years.

Mr Dutton was questioned before the polls closed if he would make a bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party if the Coalition lost the election, but he did not directly answer the question.

Ms France did not concede the contest in Dickson last night, saying it was too close to call.

“We’ll be counting and watching carefully but no matter the result, you all have put in an absolutely phenomenal effort and I stand on your shoulders,” she told her supporters.

Originally published as Peter Dutton in box seat to replace Scott Morrison as Liberal leader despite tight race in seat of Dickson