Neil Mitchell weighs in on the likelihood of a Liberal leadership change

Whispers about Scott Morrison’s leadership of the Liberal Party are growing, with the Prime Minister under fire amid several leaked text message scandals.

In a series of texts, allegedly written by Gladys Berejiklian and a current Liberal minister, Mr Morrison was branded a “fraud” and a “complete psycho”, while in another, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce labelled the Prime Minister “a hypocrite and a liar”.

Neil Mitchell understands a leadership change “has been discussed within part of the parliamentary party”.

But the 3AW Mornings host doubts it’ll happen.

“Some people are telling me the Prime Minister has got a week to turn it all around, and if not there’s a possibility that he’ll either stand down or there will be a challenge to his leadership,” he said.

“I doubt that’s going to happen.

“I think they’d be mad.

“I think Scott Morrison will lose, but I think a change of leadership would guarantee it and possibly cost seats.”

Press PLAY below to hear Neil Mitchell’s thoughts

Nine News political editor Chris Ulhmann agrees a leadership change now “would be ludicrous”.

“We are less than four months away from the actual polling day … ditching a leader now would, I think, just make matters worse,” he told Neil Mitchell.

If there is to be a leadership change, Mr Ulhmann says it’ll have to happen very, very soon.

“They can only really change leaders while Parliament is sitting. We’ve got a sitting fortnight now, then we’ll break for about five weeks and come back for just one sitting week in March for the budget, so there are very limited opportunities to change the prime minister,” he said.

“It’d have to be this fortnight. You’re not going to be doing it in the shadow of the budget, and I don’t get any sense there is any mood for that change.”

Press PLAY below to hear Mr Ulhmann’s view on the current state of the Coalition

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