<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/liberal-party" rel="" target="" title="Liberal"><span>Liberal</span></a><span> prime minister </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/malcolm-turnbull" rel="" target="" title="Malcolm Turnbull"><span>Malcolm Turnbull</span></a><span> has called on Angus Taylor to resign from shadow cabinet and officially step forward to challenge </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sussan-ley" rel="" target="" title="Sussan Ley's"><span>Sussan Ley's</span></a><span> leadership of the party, as rumours of a spill continue to grow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Murmurs of a challenge to Ley's position have grown in recent days, despite the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/coalition" rel="" target="_blank" title="Coalition"><span>Coalition</span></a><span> successfully re-forming </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/possible-coalition-reunion-expected-today-after-meeting-between-liberals-and-nationals/19093271-1d14-4542-958c-257c8f41852f" rel="" target="_blank" title="last weekend"><span>last weekend</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Taylor, the current shadow defence spokesperson and former shadow treasurer, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Ley in the event of a spill after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/andrew-hastie-rules-out-challenging-opposition-leader-sussan-ley/855914b0-19a2-4c88-9f33-bc2b9b3006eb" rel="" target="" title="fellow conservative Andrew Hastie withdrew from contention late last month"><span>fellow conservative Andrew Hastie withdrew from contention late last month</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/isaac-herzog-visit-live-updates-sydney-protests-latest-news-headlines/ac0c2b2f-cd41-4a0a-abdf-ea20837c5cc3" target="_blank"><strong><span>Pro-Palestine protesters vow to continue after ugly clash with police</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With the current parliamentary sitting week the last for the month, there is speculation a spill could be called in the next three days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Liberals held a partyroom meeting this morning, but with senators missing the meeting due to estimates sittings, a spill was not called.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, Turnbull, who resigned from the frontbench in 2015 to successfully challenge then-prime minister Tony Abbott for the Liberal leadership, called on Taylor to do the same this week.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/angus-taylor-liberal-leadership-sussan-ley-malcolm-turnbull/0a2eb9cf-cdd9-4bdd-95b1-0a2e6889cf91" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I do think he should [challenge]", Turnbull said in a press conference at the Senate courtyard, where he issued his challenge to Abbott.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-premier-reacts-to-isaac-herzog-demonstrations/d172324a-ec31-44cf-b331-2dff73c94ed5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>NSW Premier defends police during 'incendiary' mass protest</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think it is important to stand up and be counted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a place where you vote in public, so if Angus wants to be leader of the Liberal Party, he should stand up and say so, and say why."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sussan-ley-opposition-leader-defends-position-as-coalition-reunites/d676047f-d036-4f5d-932d-4caeb2597b03" rel="" target="" title="Ley's position has become less secure"><span>Ley's position has become less secure</span></a><span> as the Liberal Party flounders in the polls.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The latest Newspoll released on Monday saw the Coalition's primary vote slide to 18 per cent, now behind </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/labor" rel="" target="_blank" title="Labor"><span>Labor</span></a><span> at 33 per cent and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/one-nation" rel="" target="_blank" title="One Nation"><span>One Nation</span></a><span> on 27 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Liberal primary vote is just 15 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Turnbull didn't say Ley – who has been opposition leader for less than a year – had been denied a fair go, saying it was part and parcel of politics.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sovereign-citizen-movement-serious-threat-for-australia-lowy-institute-warns/5c4c6d74-7015-4994-bd6b-2a6e90945c9a" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Sovereign citizen' movement now a major security threat, warn experts</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He admitted it was difficult to see a viable road back for the party.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I sympathise with all of my former colleagues, but they are in a terrible state," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is the Liberal Party facing an existential crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a long road ahead… they should be worried, these polls are terrible." </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive 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