The NSW Liberals have suffered a major hit from the toxic brand damage engulfing the federal party as well as ongoing leadership scuttlebutt, with the state opposition’s primary vote plummeting to just 28 per cent.

The result will heap pressure on NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman, who will need to calm a jittery partyroom on Tuesday after the byelection loss in Kiama at the weekend , where Labor claimed the seat once held by convicted rapist and ex-Liberal MP Gareth Ward.

Speakman has vowed to stare down detractors who believe a change in leadership could improve the party’s poor performance. The party’s primary vote has slumped 4 percentage points since July.

Several senior Liberals, including deputy leader Natalie Ward and planning spokesman Scott Farlow, have publicly backed Speakm

See Full Page