Now Craig Kelly considers the crossbench

NSW Liberal MP Craig Kelly last night would not rule out a move to the crossbench if he lost his preselection.

Liberal MP Craig Kelly. Picture: AAP

NSW Liberal MP Craig Kelly last night would not rule out a move to the crossbench if he lost the preselection contest for his seat of Hughes and confirmed he was being urged to immediately resign as a Liberal MP.

Mr Kelly told The Australian he would resist the calls to switch to the crossbench in the hope of winning Liberal preselection, but kept all his options on the table if the party turned against him.

He confirmed that Liberal Party right-winger John Ruddick had been urging him to move immediately to the crossbench. “It is true that people have been ringing me following the demotion of senator Jim Molan and urging me to quit now and sit as a conservative independent,” Mr Kelly said.

“However, I have a contract with the electors of Hughes who voted me in and gave me the opportunity to represent them in Canberra

“I’m looking forward to the preselection contest to put my record and achievements — including the fact that I’ve moved my seat more places up the electoral pendulum than any other Liberal MP in the country — to the NSW Liberal Party to seek their endorsement to contest the seat of Hughes in the upcoming election as the Liberal candidate”.