In a heated and secretive gathering, tensions flared as Ley and Hume clashed over the future of the Liberal party.
Updated February 10, 2026 — 10:37 AM — Leadership contender Angus Taylor's prominent supporter, Jane Hume, confronted Sussan Ley in a candid exchange during a private party meeting. Hume demanded clarity on how Ley plans to turn around the alarming polling numbers that have plagued the Coalition, especially with rumors of an imminent leadership challenge circulating among MPs.
But here's where it gets controversial... After being removed from her frontbench role last year by Ley, Hume is now positioning herself as a potential deputy to Taylor. Her warning on Monday about the looming threat of an electoral disaster for the Liberals raised eyebrows, hinting at a possible spill in leadership later this week. Ley, however, pushed back against Hume’s criticisms, suggesting that such discussions should be reserved for their confidential party meeting.
On Tuesday morning, Hume seemed to heed Ley's advice, asking her directly what steps she would take to prevent the party from facing "electoral oblivion" in the upcoming polls. Ley’s response, shared by three MPs who chose to remain anonymous, was rather straightforward: "It’s simple. Stop talking about ourselves. Disunity is death."
Despite Ley's brevity, one MP expressed disappointment that she did not offer a more comprehensive strategic plan, especially considering Hume had requested they keep their dialogues within the confines of the party meeting.
As the Liberals prepare for a potential leadership spill later this week, reports indicate that Taylor might resign from his frontbench position as early as Wednesday afternoon, which could trigger the challenge. Hume voiced her concerns about the party’s future, stating emphatically, "I don’t think that at this point there will be a single member of the House of Representatives from Victoria. There won’t be a single member of the House ... from New South Wales. Something has to give."
Echoing this sentiment, conservative MP Sarah Henderson also called for immediate leadership changes, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues within the week.
Moderate members of the party are feeling discontent towards Hume, particularly since the small-l liberal faction strongly backs Ley. Hume and Taylor previously established a solid partnership while serving as shadow treasurer and finance spokeswoman under Peter Dutton's leadership in the last term.
During a joint meeting between the Liberal party and the Nationals following their exclusive gathering, Moderate Angie Bell made an impassioned plea for unity among party members.
Interestingly, forces aligned with Taylor chose not to leverage the scheduled meeting on Tuesday to initiate a leadership spill. This decision was influenced by most senators attending estimates hearings to scrutinize bureaucrats. However, speculation persists that a spill could still occur on Thursday or Friday.
Duniam, the opposition’s home affairs spokesman, urged Angus Taylor to clarify his intentions regarding a possible leadership bid against Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. He stated, "If Angus is interested in - as many are speculating - the leadership, then he should say so. That’s something he needs to make clear. And of course, then what events take place after that well-trodden path, that’s all a matter for him."
Duniam, a notable figure within the right-wing faction of the Liberals, participated in a private meeting in Melbourne last month alongside both Taylor and Hastie to discuss leadership prospects.
And this is the part most people miss... As the political landscape becomes increasingly turbulent, it raises the question: Will Ley hold on to her leadership amidst this brewing storm? We invite you to share your thoughts—do you think the party can recover, or is a change in leadership inevitable? Let us know in the comments!
