‘Not moving for a challenge’: Barnaby Joyce rules out tilt for Nationals party leadership

The former deputy prime minister has weighed in on his political future after reports emerged on the weekend he was angling for a return to the Nats’ top job.

Nationals MP and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce says he is prepared to rule out recontesting the Nationals’ leadership, but dodged questions of party room discontent.

Reports emerged on the weekend of widening discontent with party leader David Littleproud, with the same reports suggesting Mr Joyce and former resources minister and Queensland MP Keith Pitt were the frontrunners for any leadership challenge.

According to The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Littleproud is facing internal criticism over his relationship with Liberal leader Peter Dutton and his treatment of staff.

He played the rumours down to a “couple of bruised egos” on Sunday, but said he’d ultimately cop any decision of the party room to remove him.

Reports emerged on the weekend of discontent among the Nationals party room under David Littleproud’s leadership. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Appearing on Sunrise on Monday, Mr Joyce ruled out any possibility of a leadership challenge – before finally ruling himself out of any hypothetical spill.

Mr Joyce said he hadn’t “made one call to one person asking for one vote” and claimed the journalist behind the original story had never contacted him or his office.

“We’re not going to have a leadership challenge,” Mr Joyce said.

“I’m not moving for a leadership challenge. You don’t deny it if it’s not going to happen.”

Asked if there was discontent among the party over Mr Littleproud’s leadership, Mr Joyce said he wouldn’t talk for every person in the party room.

Barnaby Joyce said there was ‘no chance’ of a leadership challenge, but ruled himself out of any hypothetical. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Taylor

His panel mate, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said Mr Joyce had “completely avoided” the question before putting it to him herself, asking: “Barnaby Joyce, are you prepared to rule out running for the leadership should there be a leadership challenge”.

Sounding exasperated, Mr Joyce responded: “There is not going to be a leadership challenge, so I’m prepared to rule it out”.

On Sunday, Mr Littleproud said he would ultimately accept whatever the party room decided.

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

Originally published as ‘Not moving for a challenge’: Barnaby Joyce rules out tilt for Nationals party leadership