‘We could be dead in three years’: The high stakes Liberal race to save party

The race to be the next leader of the Liberals is narrowing. But whoever it is, they have a massive task on their hands.

Supporters of the candidates likely to be the next Liberal leader have been calling around airing cross-claims about the pair, as the leadership race narrows between Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor.

MPs told this masthead those in favour of Mr Taylor had highlighted Ms Ley’s role as deputy leader in the Liberal’s disastrous loss, while those pushing for Ms Ley had highlighted the Coalition’s criticised economic policies and messaging.

Victorian Liberal MP Dan Tehan is understood to be waiting in the wings to scoop up a potential deputy leader position.

It’s understood a bloc of NSW moderate MPs are solidifying behind Ley, with anger over the Coalition’s economic policy and salesmanship during the election.

“Sussan’s probably ahead - a lot of people will look at it and say well you had Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton - are you going to go for someone else who looks and sounds like that again?” one Liberal MP said.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor pictured speaking about the release of the Coalition's election costings. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Asked if the Liberals faced an existential crisis following their latest dismal result, they said “A lot depends on what happens now”.

“If we have more of the same thing, I think we could be dead in three years,” they said.

Multiple Liberals said it was unlikely Mr Taylor would get much support from his home state, citing the economic narrative from the campaign.

“(He failed to capitalise on) twelve interest rate rises and a busted budget and crazy stuff like unrealised gains taxes - plus he opposed a tax cut - if he’s the answer I’m not sure what the question is,” one said.

The Nationals will also have to select a new deputy leader, after Perin Davey – consigned to the Coalition’s third spot on the NSW Senate ticket – lost her seat after six years in parliament.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley speaks during a Liberal Party campaign launch. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

The Nationals will spill the leadership as they do every election, but multiple sources said it was possible David Littleproud wouldn’t be challenged for the top job,

unless he fails to push for better arrangements with the Liberals, including rejigging Senate tickets.

High-profile Senator Bridget McKenzie is the only solid name being bandied about to take the deputy leadership.

Ms Davey said the Nationals didn’t have to change their messaging or values “because it paid off”, but blamed the Coalition’s late policy announcements and messaging for their “devastating result”.

“I don’t know why we were talking about work from home - that’s for a government to talk with their departments about - it’s not a policy,” she said.

“People were crying out for our policies – and I know the policy work was done, we had a suite of policies, but a lot of them only appeared on the website in the last few days with no announcement or fanfare.”

Originally published as ‘We could be dead in three years’: The high stakes Liberal race to save party