‘A very divisive period’: the challenges facing a Liberal party in existential crisis

Sussan Ley inherited the leadership of the Liberal party as it reeled from election defeat in the wake of the May polls. However, several Liberals doubt Ley is the party’s long-term solution. Composite: AAP/Guardian Australia

Sussan Ley was yet to officially put up her hand to replace Peter Dutton as Liberal leader when the dirt began to circulate.

A “scorecard” spread through Liberal circles on 7 May ranking Ley, Angus Taylor and Dan Tehan – who at that stage was yet to rule himself out of the race – against a series of metrics, some more unconventional than others.