Seven thousand votes a day. Fifty thousand a week.
That’s how many supporters the Coalition is losing as the Liberals edge towards Friday's leadership showdown between Sussan Ley and challenger Angus Taylor, according to Ley’s former finance spokesman, James Paterson, who quit the frontbench on Thursday.
After weeks of shadowboxing over Ley’s position, Paterson finally put his finger on the hard truth confronting the Liberal and National parties almost a year after they suffered their worst electoral loss on record.
Most leadership challenges are over in two or three days. Smart political outfits understand that, while there are times when they have to air their dirty laundry, it’s best to move quickly and then allow the re-elected or new leader to unify the team and get on with business.
But for the Liberals, this challenge has dragged on for weeks. MPs admit they have spent more time talking about internal wrangling than holding Labor to account or offering Australians new policy ideas. Even now, a Taylor victory looks likely, but it is no certainty.
