Liberal MP Angus Taylor has resigned from Sussan Ley’s shadow cabinet, a move that suggests he may be preparing to challenge her leadership. His departure follows weeks of speculation regarding a potential conservative coup within the party. The Liberal Party has faced significant challenges since its split in January, following the federal election last year, leading to a sense of disarray within the Coalition.
Rumors of a leadership challenge began circulating as some Liberal backbenchers hinted at support for both Taylor and fellow Right Faction MP Andrew Hastie. However, with internal divisions preventing a unified front, Hastie withdrew from a race neither had officially acknowledged, leaving Taylor as the primary contender for those seeking change.
Born in Cooma, New South Wales, Taylor grew up on a farm and has a blend of rural roots and academic accolades. He is a Rhodes Scholar, holding degrees in law and economics from Sydney University, and a master’s in philosophy from Oxford University. Before entering politics, Taylor was a consultant at the global management firm McKinsey. He currently resides on his family farm in Goulburn with his wife, barrister Louise Clegg, and their four children.
Taylor was first elected as the member for Hume in 2013. In his maiden speech, he emphasized the importance of efficient resource use for improving people’s lives. Over the years, he has held various positions, including assistant minister for cities and digital transformation under former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in February 2016. He later served as shadow treasurer and, most recently, as the opposition defence spokesman under Ley.
Throughout his political career, Taylor has made headlines for various gaffes. In 2016, he gained notoriety after a comment praising his performance appeared on his own Facebook page, which he attributed to a staff error. This incident led to the phrase “Well done Angus” becoming synonymous with perceived political arrogance.
In 2019, he faced scrutiny when a document he used to criticize Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for travel expenses was found to contain manipulated figures, resulting in a police investigation that concluded without charges. More recently, during a parliamentary session in 2022, Taylor mistakenly referred to deputy speaker Sharon Claydon as “Mr Speaker” over 30 times, despite corrections.
Despite these controversies, Taylor has not publicly declared an intention to challenge Ley, stating only that support for the Liberal Party has reached its lowest point since its inception. He expressed concern over the party’s diminishing standing and emphasized the need for strong leadership moving forward.
“Since last May, I have worked hard as a member of the leadership group and the shadow cabinet to help our team regroup and rebuild after the federal election,” Taylor told reporters at Parliament House. “Despite these efforts, the Liberal Party’s position under Sussan Ley’s leadership has continued to deteriorate, leaving it weaker than at any time since its formation in 1944.”
He added that the party must urgently work to restore public confidence and accountability. “For these reasons, I have tendered my resignation from the shadow cabinet, effective immediately,” he stated. “This is not a decision I take lightly. I remain committed to the Liberal Party, which has provided me the honour and privilege of serving it.”
Taylor previously sought leadership after Peter Dutton was ousted in the 2025 election, losing by just four votes to Ley. Observers within the party have suggested that any future leadership challenges could similarly be very close. One insider even described Taylor’s unconfirmed bid as “the slowest moving coup in history,” reflecting the cautious dynamics within the party as it navigates its internal divisions.
