Angus Taylor has ‘rocks in his head’ if he backs Tony Abbott for federal Liberal presidency, …

Explore the latest developments concerning Angus Taylor has.

Angus Taylor has ‘rocks in his head’ if he backs Tony Abbott for federal Liberal presidency, insiders say

Moderate Liberals fear Abbott would continually distract from Taylor’s leadership given the former PM’s profile and hardline immigration opinions

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Angus Taylor has “rocks in his head” if he endorses Tony Abbott’s tilt at the federal Liberal presidency, according to insiders who warn the former prime minister would stir up drama and distraction for the opposition leader and his struggling party.

A contest is shaping up between Abbott and former foreign minister Alexander Downer to replace ex-South Australian premier John Olsen as Liberal Party president when the party’s federal council meets in Melbourne later this month.

Liberal party leadership: My crossing with Tony Abbott rankled, but the Libs need his special talents

Seeing two people approaching a pedestrian crossing, I slowed my car. They were still about five metres from the kerb but I stopped anyway. As they crossed in front of me, I waited for an acknowledgement – just a nod or a raised hand – but nope, nothing. They were men of late middle age. One was absorbed in talking, the other in listening.

It’s a bugbear of mine when pedestrians do this, and I was in a bad mood and almost opened my window to offer some righteous words about manners. Then I noticed that the talker was Tony Abbott, and I realised how futile it would be to shout, because here was a man used to being shouted at by random members of the public. If he heard me at all, he would think I was only abusing him for his politics, not his lack of common courtesy.

‘Not a political job’: Downer chides Abbott

Former foreign minister Alexander Downer has taken a veiled swipe at former cabinet colleague and prime minister Tony Abbott, as he confirmed his intention to run for the Liberal Party presidency.

Amid fears among moderate and other Liberals that Abbott, who is also seeking the role, will use it as a platform for his own policy agenda, Downer, a conservative, suggested that would be inappropriate.

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