Plan B Forum

Western Australian backbenchers Luke Simpkins and Don Randall have announced they will move a leadership spill against the Prime Minister on Tuesday, declaring Tony Abbott's decision to knight Prince Philip was the "final proof" of the government's disconnection with voters.



Supporters of Mr Abbott and the undeclared potential rival Malcolm Turnbull were both expressing confidence in their candidates having the numbers in the event the motion is passed.

Mr Simpkins emailed colleagues on Friday to say he had been inundated by voters with concerns about the direction of the government.

"The last time this outpouring of concern happened was when we were being led to support the Rudd government's ETS [emissions trading scheme] and faced with this erosion of our base support we acted," he said.

"I think that we must bring this to a head and test the support of the leadership of the party room.

"I have therefore submitted to the chief government whip a motion to spill the leadership positions of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party."

The motion threatens to end Tony Abbott's tenure as Prime Minister but there is still no other leadership candidate. Although Mr Turnbull is expected to contest the position he has not yet declared his intentions.

Leadership speculation has been building since Mr Abbott's infamous Australia Day honour, with his decision to knight Prince Philip widely ridiculed. The party's disastrous performance in the Queensland state election on the weekend put further pressure on the Prime Minister.

Two backbenchers supporting Mr Abbott expressed dismay at the call for a spill.

"This is a motion for a spill, it's not a spill," said Liberal MP Angus Taylor.

The motion threatens to end Tony Abbott's tenure as Prime Minister but there is still no other leadership candidate.

Gob wrote:

Western Australian backbenchers Luke Simpkins and Don Randall have announced they will move a leadership spill against the Prime Minister on Tuesday, declaring Tony Abbott's decision to knight Prince Philip was the "final proof" of the government's disconnection with voters.

"The last time this outpouring of concern happened was when we were being led to support the Rudd government's ETS [emissions trading scheme] and faced with this erosion of our base support we acted," he said.
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The motion threatens to end Tony Abbott's tenure as Prime Minister but there is still no other leadership candidate. Although Mr Turnbull is expected to contest the position he has not yet declared his intentions.

That having been said, there must be some more substantive internal party skullduggery afoot that explains the challenge to Abbott rather then this silly nonsense about The Greek Sailor...

rubato wrote:The usual weak inability to respond to substance combined with a compulsion to spew shit.


yrs,
rubato

In Australian politics, a leadership spill is a declaration that the leadership of a parliamentary party is vacant, and open for re-election. A spill may involve all leadership positions (leader and deputy leader in both houses), or just the leader.

A leadership election may result in a new leader, or may confirm the status quo. If the party in question is in government, the election of a new leader will result in a new Prime Minister, Premier or Chief Minister; if the party is the opposition, the election of a new leader will result in a new Opposition Leader.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_spill

MajGenl.Meade wrote:Who the heck dreamed up the term "spill"? Do they mean a vote of no confidence (clearly that's what it is)? Do they spill coffee... dribble... drool... light a fire... drive like Jen Brucer?