Victorian Liberal leadership hopeful John Pesutto to push for more women MPs

John Pesutto is basing his Liberal leadership pitch on ensuring the party has ‘broad appeal’. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/The Guardian

The Victorian Liberal leadership contender John Pesutto will push to boost the party’s number of female MPs, vowing to enact reform.

The race to lead the party narrowed to two contenders on Thursday after the Polwarth MP Richard Riordan pulled out, saying he would support Brad Battin from the party’s conservative wing, who is contesting alongside the moderate Pesutto. It followed the opposition leader, Matthew Guy, confirming he would step down after the party’s disastrous election loss on the weekend.