Liberal federal executive intervenes to halt NSW preselections and take over state division

Scott Morrison will put his stamp on the make up of the parliamentary party in NSW after the federal Liberal executive intervened on preselections. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

The federal executive of the Liberal party has staged another dramatic intervention in the troubled NSW branch and will take over all remaining contested preselections in New South Wales.

With the prime minister, Scott Morrison, expected to soon call the election, the three branch plebiscites scheduled for this week will be abandoned.