NSW Liberals’ preselection battle: what is at stake and who will win?

The immigration minister, Alex Hawke, is a key player in the factional battle, as convenor of the centre right and representative of the prime minister, Scott Morrison. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AP

The New South Wales Liberals will meet on Friday night to consider a peace deal hammered out by factional organisers to finalise much-delayed preselections of federal candidates and preserve the careers of at least four MPs.

But the deal requires a 90% vote in favour from the party’s 27-strong state executive, and there are threats of legal action and revolts in local branches if promised rank-and-file preselections are again bypassed in favour of picks by the factions.