Craig Kelly joins Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party ahead of federal election

An outspoken backbencher has announced he has joined Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party and will lead it into the next election.

Ex-Liberal MP Craig Kelly has hooked up with cashed-up billionaire Clive Palmer to contest the next election despite describing him as “a menace” when he was in Parliament.

The crossbench MP announced today that his campaign to retain the seat of Hughes will now be bankrolled by the Queensland businessman and he will push back against “authoritarian lockdowns”.

But just a few years ago Mr Kelly was happy to criticise his benefactor on Sky News claiming he was happy to see the back of him after he quit politics.

“You know, it’s good riddance to Clive Palmer,’’ Mr Kelly said. “He was actually a menace in the Parliament.”

Mr Kelly resigned from the Liberal Party in February after he clashed with the Prime Minister over his public support for “quack” coronavirus cures including ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

But he’s now planning to run on an anti-lockdown platform at the next federal election which is expected to be held next year.

“With endless authoritarian lockdowns, I no longer recognise the country I grew up in,” Mr Kelly said in a statement.

“And this is all happening on my watch. Someone must lead a fightback. I have therefore decided to accept the offer, to lead the United Australia Party into the next election.”

Clive Palmer met with Mr Kelly in parliament in May. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The Palmer United Party spent around $60 million at the last election and while the advertising blitz failed to secure a single seat it was regarded as a major factor in Labor losing the “unloseable” election.

Mr Palmer has raised concerns among health experts in recent months that he is distributing confusing material to voters on the vaccine rollout.

Confirmation he plans to run candidates in 151 federal electorates follows wild anti-lockdown protests over the weekend.

Craig Kelly has been on the crossbench since his defection in February. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage