Moira Deeming faces new challenge as Victorian Liberals push for vote to expel her from party

Moira Deeming has said she will take legal action to challenge her suspension from the Liberal party by state leader John Pesutto. Peter Dutton says he is not ruling out federal intervention in the dispute. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

Suspended Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming will face a new challenge to expel her from the party as early as next week after she threatened the party’s leader, John Pesutto, with legal action.

Amid warnings from the federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, of an intervention into the Victorian party, seven state Liberal MPs told Guardian Australia they are willing to put forward the motion to expel Deeming.