Your morning Briefing: Angry MPs blame Malcolm Turnbull for Wentworth loss

Welcome to your 2-minute briefing on the day’s top stories and must-reads.

Hello readers. Here is your 2-minute digest of what’s making news today.

Kerryn Phelps walking her dog in the neighbourhood Oct 21 2018 1503/81 Macleay St(Daily Telegraph - Flavio Brancaleone)

‘Blame Turnbull’

Malcolm Turnbull has come under fire from senior Coalition figures including Scott Morrison and the Liberal Party’s national president for failing to issue a public endorsement for candidate Dave Sharma in the final days of the disastrous Wentworth by-election campaign.

The future of the Morrison government hangs in the balance following a 19.09 per cent swing against the Liberals in Mr Turnbull’s former Sydney harbourside seat, the largest federal swing since the 1992 by-election for Bob Hawke’s former seat of Wills.

Paul Kelly writes that a “perfect storm” leaves the PM weaker, while Nick Cater suggests Wentworth is not the real Australia, and ScoMo can now turn to more familiar hunting grounds. Brad Norington writes that as Mr Turnbull flies back to Sydney, he’s proven he won’t live up to his maxim that ex-PMs are “best out of parliament, not in it”. Keep up with the latest from parliament in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 16, 2018 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) walks alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh. - Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said October 21, 2018 the kingdom did not know where the body of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi was, despite admitting to the killing and calling it a "tremendous mistake." Speaking in an interview on Fox News, Jubeir said the Saudi leadership initially believed Khashoggi had left its diplomatic mission in Istanbul, where he was last seen on October 2. (Photo by LEAH MILLIS / POOL / AFP)

Saudis admit cover-up

Saudi Arabia has blamed officials at its consulate in Istanbul for trying to cover up the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and described his death as a “huge and grave mistake.” Saudi’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir extended his condolences to Mr Khashoggi’s family but told Fox on Sunday that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had not been aware of the incident.

“This was an operation where individuals ended up exceeding the authorities and responsibilities they had. They made the mistake when they killed Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate and they tried to cover up for it.”

Adel al-Jubeir

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 21: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex watch on during the Elliott 7 Team racing during the Sailing on day two of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 on Sydney Harbour on October 21, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)

Pregnant pause

The Duchess of Sussex has succumbed briefly to fatigue, skipping the first of her scheduled events for a Sunday lie-in, writes Caroline Overington.

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Kerry Stokes, right, intervened to stop the wedding of Mariah Carey and James Packer, left.

Stokes’ intervention

Billionaire and Seven Network owner Kerry Stokes has revealed his intervention in James Packer’s life in 2016 when he took control for a time of his friend’s private affairs, including playing a major role in stopping his wedding to pop singer Mariah Carey. Damon Kitney has the story.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 14: Ben Cadden riding Winx during a beach session at Altona beach in Melbourne on October 14, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Challenging Winx

The international challenge to meet Winx head-on in the $5 million Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley this Saturday will be taken up by the two global superpowers of racing: Coolmore and Godolphin. Coolmore will lead the charge with powerful Irish colt Rostropovich, while Godolphin will hang their hopes on Benbatl and Avilius.

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters cartoon for 22-10-18Version: Letters Cartoon (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.