Considerable support for Moira Deeming has surprised many within the Liberal Party room

A straw poll of Victoria’s Liberal Party MPs has revealed which way the party room is leaning on whether or not to welcome back ousted MP Moira Deeming.

More than a third of the Liberal Party room is set to support the return of ousted MP Moira Deeming, but MPs are backing Leader John Pesutto, claiming that the vote will not undermine his leadership.

A straw poll of Victoria’s Liberal Party MPs, conducted by the Herald Sun before the special meeting on Friday, revealed that at least 10 of the 28 voting MPs will support Ms Deeming’s return after her defamation lawsuit win against Mr. Pesutto.

Her considerable support has surprised many, yet MPs claim the ballot is not intended as a challenge to Mr Pesutto’s leadership.

Shadow ministry members David Southwick, Georgia Crozier, Evan Mulholland, David Davis, and Wendy Lovell have all opposed Ms Deeming’s return, and backed Mr Pesutto.

David Southwick is one of the MPs who will oppose Moira Deeming’s return. Picture: David Crosling

Ms Lovell said, “I have sat in parliament and watched Moira vote with Labor against the Liberal Party’s position. I can’t support her for that reason,” and added, “John is by far the best person for the job. He has my full support.”

Conversely, Brad Battin, Richard Riordan, Bev McArthur, Ann-Marie Hermans, Renee Heath, Chris Crewther, Joe McCracken, Nicole Werner, and Bill Tilley supported Ms Deeming but had differing views on Mr Pesutto’s leadership.

Veteran MP Kim Wells backed Ms Deeming’s return but said leadership was not on the agenda for the upcoming meeting.

“I will be voting to re-admit Moira to the Liberal Party. I think the Federal Court made its ruling, and Moira should be allowed back in,” he said.

“This meeting is about Moira, and there’s only one motion.”

More than a third of the Liberal Party room is set to support Ms Deeming’s return. Picture: David Crosling

Twenty eight of the 30 sitting Liberals, including Mr Pesutto, will participate, with Cindy McLeish and Nick McGowan absent.

Ten have indicated their support, seven are against and the rest are undecided or undeclared.

Mr Tilley, who will move the motion at the meeting, highlighted the importance of the vote following the Federal Court’s decision in favour of Ms Deeming.

“I will be moving the motion at the meeting and supporting it,” he said, but when asked about Mr Pesutto’s leadership, he added, “We’re just trying to get the Moira issue sorted at the moment.”

MPs claim the vote will not undermine John Pesutto’s leadership. Picture: David Crosling

The meeting marks the latest escalation in the Liberal Party’s internal conflict after

Ms Deeming’s Federal Court win in her defamation case against Mr Pesutto.

The development also follows former Shadow Minister Sam Groth’s dramatic resignation from the front bench last week, citing his inability to serve under Mr Pesutto.

His resignation, is seen as an attempt to trigger a leadership spill, has yet to result in a significant challenge to Mr Pesutto.

Mr Groth is among several potential leadership contenders being spoken about including Brad Battin, Richard Riordan, and Brad Rowswell.

An anonymous Liberal MP criticised the timing of Mr Groth’s move, noting it was politically unwise to resign on the same day as the Victorian Labor Government’s troubling mid-year budget update.

“It just shows a complete lack of understanding of the nuance of politics. Timing is everything,” they told the Herald Sun.

“It’s like they’re trying to deliberately sabotage the Liberal Party by creating a distraction when the Labor Party is suffering.”

Another MP said the party’s internal strife was frustrating at a time when members should be engaging with their electorates and preparing for the holiday season.

Meanwhile, Labor MPs have watched on with bemusement.

“I mean, why then? It just doesn’t make sense. We thought maybe there was something else going on because frankly, it was just such bad timing. But, we don’t mind. The Liberal Party eating itself is nothing new.”

The leadership issues come as polling for the opposition has been on the rise.

Last month a Redbridge poll revealed the Coalition’s growing support, notably among battlers, low-income, and less-educated voters, which has been pivotal in sustaining Mr Pesutto’s leadership.