‘Hope you’re proud of yourself’: John Barilaro unloads on Michael McCormack over Eden-Monaro

Leaked texts have revealed John Barilaro’s extraordinary attack on Michael McCormack, blaming him for his decision not to run for a federal seat in Eden-Monaro.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has unleashed an extraordinary attack on Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack blaming him for his decision not to run for a federal seat in Eden-Monaro.

Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell has obtained an explosive text exchange between the two men in which Mr Barilaro says McCormack was “threatened” by his plans to run.

“Don’t hide behind the “members will choose the candidate’ rubbish, as you were the only one saying such lines,” Mr Barilaro wrote in the leaked messages.

“Don’t you think my branches would have backed me in?

“To feel threatened by me clearly shows you have failed your team and failed as a leader.

“You will never be acknowledged by me as our leader. You aren’t. You never will be.

“The Nats had a chance to create history, to change momentum, and you had a candidate that was prepared to risk everything to make it happen.

“What did you risk? Nothing.

“Hope you are proud of yourself.”

The revelations will rock an already unstable McCormack Nationals leadership which was the subject of an unsuccessful challenge by former leader Barnaby Joyce.

Mr McCormack told Sky News he had “never done anything but provide support” to Mr Barilaro.

“I have never done anything but provide support for John Barilaro … he’s been great for regional NSW,” he said,

“I gave him fulsome support. I still did say the local branches would have to endorse him. I have never given away the autonomy of local branches.”