Scott Morrison appears to freeze out former PM Tony Abbott in the wake of his leadership comments

It took just days for Scott Morrison to retreat from suggestions he would promote Tony Abbott if the Coalition wins the election.

Scott Morrison has hosed down suggestions he would campaign with Tony Abbott and promote the former PM to the frontbench if re-elected.

In an interview on the election trail with news.com.au, the Prime Minister was asked about his comments at an earlier press conference where he appeared to suggest he would support Mr Abbott.

“I haven’t made any comments on those things,” Mr Morrison said.

When asked about his comments at an earlier press conference, he said: “I haven’t given any suggestion one way or the other on any of those things.”

It comes in the wake of Mr Abbott’s extraordinary comments that he is willing to lead the Liberals again if they lose government.

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Scott Morrison has stepped away from a suggestion he would campaign with Tony Abbott and promote him to Cabinet if the Coalition wins the election.

Last week, Mr Morrison was asked whether he planned on campaigning with Mr Abbott and would consider bringing him back on to his frontbench.

“They’re decisions I hope to be able to make, but I’m not going to presume upon them, on the Australian people,” he said.

But yesterday, Mr Morrison said he thought people were “over-interpreting my answer”.

“All I’m simply saying is Tony is a member of the team, and I want to see him re-elected in Warringah, and he’ll have my absolute support to help him do that,” the PM said, adding: “Like every single member of my team.”

Tony Abbott was one of the prime instigators of Peter Dutton’s failed challenge of the Liberal leadership last year.

When asked about the targeting of MPs like Mr Abbott and Peter Dutton by Labor as dinosaurs, Mr Morrison said: “Well, I don’t agree with them on that. They’re members of my team. I want to see all of my team elected”.

Asked if he thought they were damaging the Liberal Party brand, Mr Morrison said: “They’re all members of my team, and I want to see them all re-elected because that’s how we form a government again.”

Tony Abbott was viewed by many colleagues as a destabilising force for the government when Malcolm Turnbull was PM.

His comments come after Mr Abbott said he would be willing to take on the top job again if he was asked.

While a Coalition win would give Mr Morrison a strong hold on the leadership, if he loses, the role would be thrown open.

“It will be up to the party room,” Mr Abbott told an election forum at Manly Yacht Club on Monday evening.

“If they want me, they will need to invite me. But I am not expecting that.

“I am not going to shoulder anyone aside for the top job because for me it has never been about that.”

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Tony Abbott is facing stiff competition in Warringah from independent candidate Zali Steggall. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mr Abbott has been a thorn in the Liberal Party’s side since he was dumped as leader to make way for Malcolm Turnbull.

After being sent to the backbench, the hard-right figure was viewed by his moderate colleagues as a destabilising force on par with embittered Labor leader Kevin Rudd.

Mr Rudd was destructive in the wake of being knifed by Julia Gillard and spent years waging a quiet war to regain the leadership.

It was often suggested Mr Abbott was conducting a similar campaign against his own party.

Zali Steggall is running against Tony Abbott in the normally safe Liberal seat of Warringah. Picture: AAP

During last year’s chaotic leadership challenge, in which Home Affairs Minister Mr Dutton tried and failed to seize the top job from Mr Turnbull, it was said one of Mr Dutton’s major encouragers was Mr Abbott.

Mr Abbott supported the controversial Mr Dutton in the ballot and began speaking out against the then-PM’s leadership style and key policies.

The long-time Warringah MP is facing a formidable challenge in his Sydney seat form high-profile independent candidate Zali Steggall.