Malcolm Turnbull is displaying arrogant egotism

The former PM is wrapped up in himself, to the detriment of his party and all Coalition supporters.

Malcolm Turnbull has shown a lack of political nous. His choices have been self-centred and self-aggrandising, and have resulted in self-immolation. Wrapped up in arrogance, he called a leadership spill on himself — what sort of a fool does that? An arrogant and egotistical fool.

By his own actions he clarified for the partyroom and the country his inability to lead, govern and win the next election. The result is based on his capabilities — nothing else.

More fool any Liberal MP who heeds his latest self-centred advice. Look at what happened to the MPs that led the charge to take Tony Abbott down and replace him with the Turnbull — voters showed them what they thought of their treachery.

The best thing that could happen to this country is that we never hear his name again, that no one gives him any airtime or seeks his views on any subject.

Celi Paul, Highgate Hill, Qld

There are some who believe that words should mean what they say and who welcome Malcolm Turnbull’s interventions. They expose the dishonesty in describing Turnbull and his wets as “moderates”. There is nothing moderate about them. They are extreme in everything they believe in, and in every action they take in furtherance of those beliefs.

But we on the hard Right, as defined by Peter van Onselen, are the model of moderation in word and in deed. Compare and contrast Tony Abbott’s manly stoicism with the spitefulness of Turnbull and others of the winners’ circle when they stopped winning. Let there be truth in labelling. Just as we call a spade a spade, so also should we call a wet a wet.

Frank Pulsford, Aspley, Qld

It is duplicitous of Malcolm Turnbull to claim, during the Wentworth by-election, that his commentary would be irrelevant since he was no longer in politics, and then return to the fray when it suits him to undermine the party that made him leader.

Peter Fleming, Northmead, NSW

The actions of Malcolm Turnbull since his demise are not those of a statesman. At every turn, it appears that he sets out to destabilise. There is even a slight parallel in this saga with that of supercoach Wayne Bennett. Some very competent people do not know when their time is up or when they are no longer wanted. When events come to a climax, they do not know how to leave graciously, with honour, with their reputation intact and with their heads held high.

James A. Athanasou, Maroubra, NSW

Malcolm Turnbull accused Tony Abbott of being a sniper but he was not; he stood upright in front of Turnbull and fired from the hip. Turnbull is a sniper; he hides behind cover and shoots Scott Morrison in the back. Treacherous is the word.

Tony Hennessy, Casino, NSW

I see dear old hard-done-by Malcolm Turnbull reckons Scott Morrison just wants to “keep his arse” in the prime ministerial car. Isn’t that why Turnbull himself is so antsy, but not bitter? Oh no, Turnbull could never be bitter.

What really happened over the past decade of the Liberal Party is that Turnbull was not content to play second fiddle to anyone, backstabbed his way into Wentworth, then into being leader of the opposition. He then proceeded to make a mess of things.

That opened the door to someone from the other end of the spectrum in Tony Abbott who then convinced the party’s fringe that their time had come to dictate policy rather than argue and articulate it. Rational compromise was out of the question.

The rest is the sad little history lesson still playing out — with teamwork tossed out of the window.

M. Seward, Launceston, Tas

The gall of Malcolm Turnbull is breathtaking. A failed PM, recently rejected by the Coalition partyroom, and with a disastrous 2016 election result behind him, additional losses in recent by-elections, plus a consistent weakness in the polls during his tenure, he is now attempting to advise and cajole the government on candidate selection policy and election strategy.

Fortunately his background will ensure his proposals will have limited credibility but they do provide some additional grist to the government’s opponents in their attempts to white-ant the Coalition. This is clearly Turnbull’s self-serving strategy and thereby provides a solid reason to fire him from the Liberal Party.

David Taylor, Newport, NSW