In a statement, Hastie ended tale he would challenge Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who has come under pressure following her party’s split with the Nationals. “Over the past few weeks there has been speculation about the future leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia,” Hastie, the MP for Canning in WA, said. “On this basis, I wish to make it clear: I will not be contesting the leadership of the Liberal Party.”Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie emerged as possible contenders for a challenge of the Liberal leadership. Taylor ran unsuccessfully against Ley for the party leadership after the coalition’s horror federal election result in May. Instead of appointing backbenchers to new roles, Ley has given existing Liberal shadow cabinet members new temporary responsibilities for next week’s sitting of federal parliament and senate estimates.