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

The state Opposition is facing a leadership nightmare in the wake of Saturday’s election defeat, with a frontrunner to replace Matthew Guy on the verge of losing his seat.

The state Opposition is facing a leadership nightmare in the wake of Saturday’s election defeat, with a frontrunner to replace Matthew Guy on the verge of losing his seat.

After Mr Guy resigned as Liberal leader on Wednesday morning, senior frontbencher John Pesutto fell 47 votes behind Labor’s John Ormond Kennedy in the blue-riband seat of Hawthorn.

Mr Pesutto had held a narrow lead but the votes turned against him on Wednesday night, heightening fears in the Coalition that he would not be returned to parliament.

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Matthew Guy concedes defeat in the Victorian state election. Picture: AAP

While 10 seats remain undecided, concern among senior Liberal figures has also spread to other electorates, including Gembrook, where frontbencher Brad Battin’s lead is shrinking.

It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce a Cabinet reshuffle after naming his ministry on Tuesday.

Mr Guy said in a statement that he would not recontest the party’s leadership in the wake of the election thumping.

“I would like to place on ­record my deep appreciation for the hard work of all my Liberal members in the last parliament,” Mr Guy said.

“They were the most unified team of any parliamentary party in Australia.”

The Liberal leadership will not be decided until a party room meeting next Thursday, with shadow treasurer Michael O’Brien the other leading candidate.

The Victorian Electoral Commission continued to update results on Wednesday night, with a string of seats hanging in the balance.

Hawthorn remained the tightest contest but just 52 votes separated Liberal MP Louise Staley and Labor’s Sarah De Santis in Ripon.

Bayswater MP Heidi Victoria fell 236 votes behind Labor candidate Jackson Taylor, while Liberal Brad ­Rowswell led the ALP’s Anita Horvath in Sandringham.

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The Greens’ Tim Read nudged ahead of Labor’s Cindy O’Connor in inner-city ­Brunswick.

Mr Andrews wished Mr Guy well and said he understood the toll leadership could take on family life.

“I have been Opposition leader and I know that is not an easy job,” he said.

Mr Andrews’ Cabinet is set for a shake-up with three new faces on the frontbench.

On Tuesday, Adem Somyurek, Melissa Horne and Gab­rielle Williams were added to the ministry, in place of Phil­ip Dalidakis, John Eren and Natalie Hutchins.

Mr Andrews said undecided seats had delayed announcements on his ministry but portfolios would be decided “soon”.

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