For a leader who started the day insisting to all and sundry that he would need to be blasted out of the Liberal leadership, Mark Speakman’s departure was ultimately a dignified and peaceful exit.

By the time Speakman was convinced by factional allies and his long-time political mate former Pittwater MP Rob Stokes that he needed to fall on his sword, the party had endured an arduous 24-hours as it tried to work out how to depose a leader who was widely liked and respected.

Liberal MPs were blindsided when, rather than going quietly as they may have hoped, Speakman launched the strongest defence of his leadership since he took on the job after the 2023 election.

“Reports of my death are grossly exaggerated and I’m here to fight,” he almost thundered on morning radio on Thursday as he d

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