Barnaby Joyce regrets calling himself the ‘elected deputy PM’, says Michael McCormack will lead Nats

Barnaby Joyce says he regrets calling himself the “elected deputy PM’’ and vows Michael McCormack will remain his leader | WATCH

Barnaby Joyce has expressed regret over calling himself the “elected deputy prime minister” and declared Michael McCormack would lead the Nationals to the next election.

Barnaby Joyce says he regrets calling himself the “elected deputy prime minister” and declared Michael McCormack would lead the Nationals to the next election.

The former deputy prime minister issued a mea culpa this morning after NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro told him to “shut up” and warned his interventions could see the Berejiklian government lose the state election.

“Maybe it was a misstep by my part,” Mr Joyce told Nine’a Today.

“After the election I’m hoping that Michael McCormack is federally elected and Scott Morrison is federally elected.”

On Monday, Mr Joyce said he would have no guilt about standing against and beating Mr McCormack in a leadership spill because he was the “elected deputy prime minister”.

“We are going to go to this election with @M_McCormackMP and with @ScottMorrisonMP and … I hope that we do everything we can to get them federally elected.” @Barnaby_Joyce denies he is after the National Party Leadership. #9Today pic.twitter.com/6l67Bk9lEw

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) March 12, 2019

Mr Joyce said he backed Mr McCormack to stay Nationals leader until the election.

“I have no intentions whatsoever, I don’t know how many times I have to say this, to do anything but make sure that Michael McCormack is the deputy prime minister,” Mr Joyce said.

“We are going to go to this election with Michael McCormack and Scott Morrison and I hope we do everything we can to get them federally elected because otherwise you are going to get the Greens and the Labor Party and the independents.”

But the New England MP said he would stand for the role of Nationals leader if the position was spilled.

“I have always said that. The reason for that is because you are stating the bleeding obvious,” Mr Joyce said.

“Lots of people will throw their hats in. It is a statement of the bleeding obvious.”

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.