Matthew Guy denies leadership ambitions, throws support behind Michael O’Brien after leadership spill

Former Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy has denied he has plans to contest for the top job and has backed in current leader Michael O’Brien after Tuesday’s leadership spill.

Matthew Guy has insisted Michael O’Brien will now be given a clear run to lead the Liberal Party to next year’s state election.

The former party leader again dismissed suggestions today he still had ambitions to reclaim the leadership amid speculation he had been encouraged to run again.

And he said it was time for all leadership speculation to stop.

“I don’t want anyone asking again, over and over again about this issue, that is the end of the matter,” he said.

“That’s the end of the matter. Full stop.”

Specifically asked whether or not he would contest the leadership before the November 2022 election, Mr Guy said he would not.

He also slammed suggestions the party was headed for a landslide defeat.

“Commentary I’ve seen this morning from media outlets that somehow we are on a path to something like Western Australia, that is ridiculous,” he said.

Former Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy. Picture: Aaron Francis

“We are gunning for a win at the next election. We are fighting for a win. our state needs us to do that.

“The state needs the Liberal and National parties to present a strong opposition.

“Commentary that we’re headed for some kind of single seat numbers is ridiculous, stupid, and its just untrue.”

Opposition leader Michael O’Brien also rejected any suggestion that he was in danger of facing another coup, saying he was confident there were no more challengers waiting to topple him.

Mr O’Brien survived a leadership challenge on Tuesday with his party room voting against a leadership spill 22 votes to 9.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” he said.

“Seriously, if 50 per cent plus one in politics is a landslide, I’ll take 22 to nine any day.”

The deputy premier believes O’Brien won’t survive much longer at the helm of the Liberal party ship, which he likened to the Titanic.

Following the fallout from the party’s failed leadership spill on Tuesday, James Merlino said the Liberal party “continue to show how chaotic they are”.

“Shuffling a few shadow ministers around is like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic,” he told the Herald Sun on Wednesday.

“Michael O’Brien is the captain of his ship and he has a third of his crew in mutiny. And that will continue. A third of the crew hate the captain. It will not end.”

When pressed as to whether he was relieved that challenger Brad Battin’s bold bid failed, Mr Merlino said it was “irrelevant” to him.

“This is a chaotic, shambolic opposition and frankly it’s a disservice to the people of Victoria,” he added.

“I’m very happy if Mr O’Brien stays the opposition leader, but my tip is that he won’t be there for long.”