By January 1995, internal Liberal Party polling showed that with Downer as leader, the Coalition had a slim chance of holding its marginal seats in the next election, let alone of winning government. In mid-January Downer began negotiating in with former leader now back-bencher John Hewson, but this resulted in Hewson publicly declaring he wanted the shadow Treasury portfolio which meant Downer would have to sack deputy leader Peter Costello from the position.[3] On 30 January 1995, he resigned as Liberal Leader.
Downer pledged his support to Howard and said he would "kneecap" anyone who undermined Howard's second attempt at winning the prime ministership.[4]
- ^ "Newspoll Archive". Newspoll.com. 2015. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ Canberra Times, 31 January 1995
- ^ "Blast from past sparks fresh Librawl". Australian Financial Review. 24 January 1995.
- ^ Ward, Ian (December 1995). "Australian Political Chronicle: January–June 1995". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 41 (3).