Sky News is reporting that Malcolm Turnbull has officially declared the leadership of the Liberal Party vacant – meaning that a leadership spill is officially on. The understanding is that both Turnbull and Peter Dutton are standing for the role, with no word on whether there are other challengers.
#BREAKING: The @LiberalAus leadership has been declared vacant with a vote to be held on party leader.
MORE TO COME: https://t.co/MqttFIQL6z pic.twitter.com/mJRhfHO2XR
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 20, 2018
There’s been a lot of chatter over the past couple of weeks about Peter Dutton’s lust for the throne, and it looks like it has come to a head. Turnbull is ostensibly backed by the moderates in the Liberal Party, whereas Dutton is backed by the conservatives. All bets are off at this point, though.
Well. This is going to be interesting. More to come as we find out.
