Scott Morrison wins home electorate of Cook

Scott Morrison has been re-elected in his home electorate of Cook, but suffered an embarrassing drop in support with a seven per cent swing since last election.

Scott Morrison has been re-elected in his home electorate of Cook in Sydney’s south east, but has suffered a huge drop in support since last election.

The Australian has Mr Morrison ahead with a two-candidate preferred vote of 62.84 per cent with 56.51 per cent of the vote counted.

But Mr Morrison’s primary vote is at 56 per cent to Labor candidate Simon Earle’s 24.52 per cent.

The numbers mark a massive swing since last election, when voters in Cook, which takes in beachside suburbs like Cronulla and Sylvania, backed in the newly installed Liberal leader by an overwhelming margin.

Mr Morrison romped home during the 2019 election with a two-candidate preferred vote of 69.02 per cent, and a massive primary vote of 63.70 per cent.

In comparison Labor’s candidate secured a tiny 23.10 per cent primary vote and 30.98 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with his wife Jenny, and daughters Abbey and Lily. Picture: Jason Edwards

This year Mr Morrison faced off against Labor’s Simon Earle, the chief executive officer of a training company, a former primary school teacher and educator with Life Education.

“My character is quite different to Scott Morrison’s, so it’s going to be a fresh option for the people of Cook,” Mr Earle said.

“I’m here, I'm committed, I'm here for the people of this community, I’m honest, I’ve got integrity and I do what I’m going to say.”

Mr Morrison is expected to stand down as leader if the Coalition loses the election, but refused to discuss it when grilled by ABC’s Leigh Sales earlier this week.

“No, that is not something I’m contemplating because I’m not contemplating that being the scenario,” Mr Morrison said.

“I’m focused on one thing and that’s ensuring our government continues,” he added.

“The only person who has announced their retirement is you, Leigh, and I wish you very well in your retirement.”

Labor’s Simon Earle. Picture: Labor Party

It has been a tough year for Mr Morrison, who has been called a liar by the French prime minister, and a “horrible person” by members of his own party.

Mr Morrison, whose family lived in Port Hacking prior to becoming prime minister in 2018, was also forced to address ugly allegations he warned Liberal Party members about his competitor’s Lebanese background when the two men were vying for preselection in 2007.

Polls have shown Mr Morrison’s satisfaction rating dropping among voters.