Nationals leader David Littleproud has called for Barnaby Joyce to remain with the party after the maverick MP announced his intention to quit.

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The former deputy prime minister announced on Saturday he would not stand for his NSW seat of New England at the next election, citing an irreparably broken relationship with the Nationals' leadership, but would see out the rest of the parliamentary term.

The move has prompted speculation Mr Joyce could defect to Pauline Hanson's One Nation.

Mr Littleproud said Mr Joyce still had a critical role to pla

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