Jess Wilson declares she will stand for leadership as Brad Battin tells John Pesutto of incoming challenge

Jess Wilson has declared she will put her hand up for the Liberal leadership and go head-to-head with Brad Battin in a bid to take over from John Pesutto.

Two challengers have emerged to seize the top job from John Pesutto, with Jess Wilson declaring she would also put her hand up just hours after contender Brad Battin phoned the opposition leader to warn him of a looming spill.

Ahead of his third tilt at taking the leadership, Mr Battin plugged in a Boxing Day call with the Opposition Leader to flag his intention to motion for a spill.

If the motion is successful, the shadow police spokesman will go head-to-head with fellow frontbencher Jess Wilson, who formally declared she would also put her hand up to replace Mr Pesutto on Thursday night.

Exiled Liberal MP Moira Deeming is also expected to be re-admitted to the parliamentary party at the special meeting, originally called by Mr Pesutto for January 15 to hold the second vote on the matter in just two weeks.

Five MPs, however, fast-tracked the meeting in an urgent effort to revamp the party before the new year.

Loyalists to Mr Pesutto were still hoping for a more amicable deal to negotiate an “arrangement,” although that now seems unlikely Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Battin is understood to have secured the backing of the majority of the party room. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Former tennis star Sam Groth is tipped to throw his hat in the ring to be second in charge - a role currently held by long-time Liberal, David Southwick.

Some rank-and-file members are concerned that the move to topple Mr Pesutto could lead the Victorian Liberals into yet another devastating electoral loss.

It comes after recent polling showed the Liberals’ popularity was rising among Victorian voters, despite Mr Pesutto’s legal woes.

However, the majority of the Liberal Party room, including previous allies of Mr Pesutto, say the problem-plagued leader’s reign must come to an end and are likely to vote in favour of a spill.

Mr Battin, a long touted challenger for the leadership, called Mr Pesutto on Thursday morning to warn him of the looming challenge.

He is understood to have secured the backing of the majority of the party room.

However, loyalists to Mr Pesutto were still hoping for a more amicable deal to negotiate an “arrangement,” although that now seems unlikely.

Ms Wilson, in a statement on Thursday night, said she would also contend the leadership to give her colleagues “a choice”.

“The best way forward to defeat Jacinta Allan and Labor was with a unified leadership ticket,” she wrote.

Jess Wilson is putting her hand up to replace John Pesutto as leader.

“Unfortunately, it has been made clear to me today that a unity ticket is no longer on the table.

“Given that and after consulting my colleagues, I’ve decided to stand to offer them a choice.”

The special meeting will include a ballot on Mrs Deeming’s re-entry and the party leadership, as well as on whether MPs canparticipate remotely.

The situation follows an email sent to colleagues by Mr Pesutto on Christmas Eve, in which he advised that he would invoke a special clause to allow absent MPs to participate remotely while away on holiday.

However, the move has been criticised by senior Liberal James Newbury, who claimed Mr Pesutto’s proposal was in “breach of the constitution.”

A successful leadership spill would also leave leader and deputy leader of the Upper House up for grabs.

Senior Liberal David Davis was expected to take over from Georgie Crozier, while outspoken MP Bev McArthur was expected toput her hand up for deputy.

It’s understood that some MPs were also aware that a leadership spill at Christmas, and when the state’s fire services werebattling a major blaze in the west on one of the worst fire days in a decade, “was not a good look”.

Mr Battin and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment.

The government was also remaining relatively quiet on Boxing Day morning, with Premier Jacinta Allan sidelined by Covid over Christmas.

Ms Allan remained isolated in her home in Bendigo on Boxing Day after revealing she had tested positive on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

Ms Allan remained isolated in her home in Bendigo on Boxing Day after revealing she had tested positive on Monday, having begun to feel symptoms while in briefings about the Grampians fires. In a Christmas video posted on social media, Ms Allan appeared visibly ill. “Hi, I’ve got Covid. Bit of an early Christmas gift from one of the kids,” she joked, while emphasising that she was staying “focused on the fire danger” from home.

Over Christmas, the State Control Centre briefed Ms Allan remotely.

She was also in contact with Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, who will address the public later today.

It’s unclear when the Premier will be back on duty, but government sources have confirmed she is testing regularly and will return as soon as possible.

The Premier’s unfortunate illness comes as the state faces dire fire conditions.

But Ms Allan has received hundreds of supportive messages online encouraging her to get well soon.

Originally published as Jess Wilson declares she will stand for leadership as Brad Battin tells John Pesutto of incoming challenge