Julie Bishop will run for the prime ministership

JULIE Bishop has made a shock entrance to the battle to replace Malcolm Turnbull as the Prime Minister of Australia.

THE Liberal leadership is shaping up to be a three-way contest with Julie Bishop poised to make a run for the top job.

A senior Liberal source told news.com.au the Foreign Minister would throw her hat in the ring in the event of a leadership spill tomorrow.

In her pitch to colleagues, she told them she won’t be “another man’s deputy”, The Australian reported.

There has been growing pressure on Ms Bishop to declare herself as the third candidate to become prime minister, with members of cabinet “strongly” encouraging her to run, 7 News reports.

READ MORE: Why is Julie Bishop overlooked as a potential prime minister?

The other candidates vying to replace Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull are former home affairs minister Peter Dutton and Treasurer Scott Morrison.

With things in Canberra moving a mile a minute, it’s yet to be seen whether Ms Bishop will definitely follow through, but a spokesperson for her office told 7 News she was “considering her options”.

News.com.au contacted the Foreign Minister's office for comment, but they could not be reached this afternoon.

Leadership Challenge: @JulieBishopMP is being encouraged to put her hand up for the leadership. "@ScottMorrisonMP will also be a candidate" - @Riley7News on @Channel7. #auspol #7News pic.twitter.com/hLLJyT6jQh

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) August 23, 2018

This in itself marks a shift from her previous position. When asked about her leadership ambitions in recent media interviews, Ms Bishop emphasised her loyalty to Mr Turnbull.

Two nights ago, 7.30’sLeigh Sales asked the Foreign Minister whether she’d run if it meant saving the party.

“That’s such a hypothetical. I mean, it’s got so many hypotheticals built into it,” Ms Bishop responded after being re-elected to her position that day. “No. I’ve just been elected as deputy leader of the party. I don’t take that for granted, and I will do my very best to act out that role as deputy in support of the Coalition delivering good government for the Australian people.”

Sales pointed out the polls suggested she’d be their only chance at survival.

“Peter Dutton made it clear in April that he wanted to be prime minister,” Ms Bishop replied. “I think that was a signal to colleagues that he wants the job. I’ve got a job. I’m getting on with my job of delivering good government for the people of Australia, and supporting the Turnbull government in doing that.”

A News Corp Australia online poll showed Ms Bishop was the preferred leader for the party among readers with 34 per cent of votes, followed by Mr Turnbull at 30 per cent, Tony Abbott at 17 per cent Peter Dutton at 10 per cent.

Polling shows Julie Bishop is the most popular Liberal candidate gunning for the top job.

Ms Bishop’s partner, David Panton, is attending the Myer runway series in Sydney tonight.

When asked who will win the leadership spill, he told the Herald Sun: “You’re heard it straight from the horse’s mouth — by tomorrow at lunch time Julie Bishop will definitely be Prime Minister.”

Julie Bishop's partner David Panton tonight, who is attending the Myer runway series in Sydney, when asked who will win #libspill
"You're heard it straight from the horse's mouth - by tomorrow at lunch time Julie Bishop will definately be Prime Minister," he told @AnnaHeraldSun

— Paul Tatnell (@PaulTatnell) August 23, 2018

But despite her popularity and “star power”, the path to the leadership in the party wouldn’t be easy for the Foreign Minister.

In an earlier piece for news.com.au, Chris Urquhart noted Ms Bishop’s moderate position, the questioning of her loyalty and her coming from Western Australia — when the marginal seats need to be won on the other side of the country — were major hurdles for her.

Mr Morrison has the advantage of being Sydney-based, while critics have noted Mr Dutton’s conservatism and “plain style” may appeal to voters in the crucial marginal seats in Queensland and western Sydney.

Ms Bishop has served as the Member for Curtin in the House of Representatives since 1998.

She was sworn in as Australia’s first female Foreign Minister on 18 September 2013 following four years in the role of Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Earlier today, Mr Turnbull announced he would step aside if he were to lose the support of the majority of his Liberal colleagues.

He said he plans to hold another party room meeting Friday to settle the leadership crisis, but only if he receives a petition signed by a majority of Liberal MPs asking him to do so.

He also criticised rebel MPs for staging an “internal insurgency”.

“I have never given in to bullies, but you can imagine the pressure it’s put people under,” he told reporters.

“They’re hard to stop,” he said.

“What we have witnessed at the moment is a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal Party further to the right.”