THE State Opposition has begun tearing itself apart after internal polling showed Leader John-Paul Langbroek cannot win the next election.
Polling sent by text message to senior state and federal Liberal National Party MPs on Friday night showed Lord Mayor Campbell Newman was their only hope of winning government against a resurgent Premier Anna Bligh.
Cr Newman yesterday gave his strongest indication he was manoeuvering for a state seat, after criticising a "tired" Bligh Government, and refusing to support the LNP leadership.
Story goes here.The polling of 600 people obtained by The Sunday Mail showed the LNP ahead 52-48 on two-party preferred, short of the 54 per cent needed to win.
With Cr Newman it would be 66-34 on two-party preferred, easily ousting Ms Bligh.
The polling revealed Cr Newman racked up 48 per cent as preferred leader, while Mr Langbroek managed only 15 per cent.
A defiant Mr Langbroek, in far north Queensland meeting Prince William, said he would "stare down" any challengers.
"I will beat Anna Bligh at the next election," he said.
Senior sources hit out at the party bosses for a "botched" attempt to parachute Cr Newman into Bruce Flegg's seat of Moggill after news reports revealed the alleged deal.
But even if Cr Newman does not run, the LNP has begun cannibalising itself, with relations between party bosses and MPs increasingly strained.
Cr Newman yesterday refused to rule out a tilt at state politics.
Asked whether he believed Mr Langbroek was a strong leader to take the party to the next election, Cr Newman said, "I'm not going to make any commentary on a member of the party outside my own team."
Suggestions LNP president Bruce McIver offered Dr Flegg a top job in London if he quit his seat for Cr Newman prompted ALP state secretary Anthony Chisholm to refer the matter to the Crime Misconduct Commission.
The CMC will assess this week whether it will investigate the referral. Mr Chisholm told the watchdog that Section 87 of the Criminal Code made it an offence to promise a public office holder a favour or benefit.
Mr McIver has denied any wrongdoing and Dr Flegg said he would contest the election.
No comments:
Post a Comment