Julie Bishop's loyalty to Prime Minister Tony Abbott is under question after she released a weak statement where she appeared to be keeping her options open. Despite Mr Abbott telling reporters he and Ms Bishop would 'stand together to defeat the motion', Sky News is reporting she would not stand on a joint ticket with the Prime Minister. In a fiery address, a clearly angered Mr Abbott said: 'We are not the Labor Party. We are not going to repeat the chaos and instability of the Labor years. 'I have spoken to deputy leader Julie Bishop and we will stand together to urge the party room to defeat this particular motion.'
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Julie Bishop's loyalty to Prime Minister Tony Abbott under question after weak statement of support
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Two Liberal backbenchers announced they would move a spill motion against Prime Minister Tony Abbott today
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Scott Morrison has ruled himself out of contention but Malcolm Turnbull has not issued a statement
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WA backbencher Luke Simpkins said the Knighthood issue was the straw that broke the camel's back
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'I think that we must bring this to a head, and test the support of the leadership in the party room'
In his email to his @placeholder colleagues he wrote: 'The knighthood issue was for many the final proof of a disconnection with the people,' Simpkins wrote in the email.