’We’re all on borrowed time’: Littleproud

Nationals Leader David Littleproud has dismissed growing speculation that his leadership is under threat as a “couple of bruised egos”, and that all politicians are on “borrowed time”.

​Nationals leader David Littleproud says the internal discontent over his leadership was due to “a couple of bruised egos”, but he refused to address claims he had a problem keeping his temper under control.

Nationals leader David Littleproud says internal discontent over his leadership was because of “a couple of bruised egos”, but he refused to address claims he had a problem keeping his temper under control.

Mr Littleproud said he was not taking his leadership for granted, amid speculation that Nationals MPs Barnaby Joyce and Keith Pitt were eyeing his job.

The Australian understands that while there was anger within ­Nationals ranks over Mr Littleproud’s leadership style, neither Mr Joyce nor Mr Pitt were ­actively doing the numbers.

Nationals MPs told The Australian it would be too early to mount a leadership challenge, given parliament is not set to return for at least five weeks, but Mr Littleproud’s future in the role was not assured.

Nationals sources said Mr Littleproud had a habit of losing his temper and speaking poorly to MPs, staffers and bureaucrats.

Mr Littleproud on Sunday brushed off suggestions that his leadership was under threat, ­although he did declare that “we are all on borrowed time in politics”.

“Don’t worry about that, no matter your political party,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Uh, look, it’s a couple of bruised egos, but ... it’s the bequest of the partyroom and I’ve never taken anything for granted being the leader.

“But while I’m the leader, I’m just going to focus on my job about not just holding the government to account but being constructive where I can.”

Mr Littleproud hosed down suggestions that he had lost his temper with his colleagues and staff as “all in the beltway” and said he did not get caught up in speculation.

“Obviously in Parliament House, there are different opinions,” Mr Littleproud said.

“There’s a number of things and we always ... try to express them and that’s how parliament operates.

“I don’t get caught up in those types of things at all.”

The Queensland MP has held the leadership role since May last year after challenging then leader Mr Joyce following the Coalition’s election loss.

Mr Littleproud in May faced a probe into his travel claims for a flying visit to the Gold Coast just days after he and his wife had settled on a $1.375m beachfront apart­ment, and he was forced to partly repay the expenses – including business-class flights and Comcar fees – after an Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority audit.

Following the IPEA’s audit, Mr Littleproud said he had “mistakenly sought the wrong advice” and had decided to pay back costs for his return travel to Queensland to “remove doubt on any part of that trip”.

He has also faced internal criticism after he publicly endorsed the position of big tobacco companies on vaping regulations, just 36 hours after he had been privately lobbied by representatives from Philip Morris and British American Tobacco.

Nationals MPs were understood to have been surprised by Mr Littleproud’s strong stance on vaping regulations, given that the issue had not previously been considered a top electoral priority for the party.