Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has quit the party at the weekend, citing fractured relationships with its leadership.

The high-profile New England MP will not stand for his seat at the next election.

He does plan to see out rest of the term, though.

“My relationship with the leadership of the Nationals in Canberra has unfortunately, like a sadness in some marriages, irreparably broken down,” the former Deputy Prime Minister wrote in a letter to branch members.

Reports the firebrand MP plans to defect to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation were not confirmed in the statement but his options have been kept open.

“I am free to now consider all options as to what I do next,” he said.

Mr Joyce was demoted from the party’s frontbench by current leader David Littleproud earlier this year.

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