Neil Mitchell: The ‘absurd power game’ that could cost the Liberals the next election

Neil Mitchell has called for the state and federal branch of the Liberal Party to come together and convince Tim Smith to step aside.

Neil says if he doesn’t it has the potential to cost them the next election.

The disgraced Kew MP resigned from his position in the shadow cabinet after he crashed into a Hawthorn home and recorded a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.131, a recording nearly three times the legal limit.

Leader of the Opposition Matthew Guy has called for him to not contest his seat at the next election, but he has so far resisted those calls, and has reportedly found allies from the federal members of the Liberal party including Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

But Neil Mitchell says he has to go.

“His leader has told him to go, and he’s hanging on,” he said.

“Now he’s entitled to that, although if he does care about the party I think he needs to announce soon that he’s not going to re-contest.

“But there has been an absurd power game going on behind the scenes, involving all manner of federal MPs and supporters of Tim, Josh Frydenberg is in the middle of it, a supporter of Tim Smith, but he’s got to put that aside.

“What needs to happen is Josh Frydenberg and Matthew Guy have got to sit down with Tim Smith and convince him that there’s no option other than to step aside at the next election.

“End it as an issue.”

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