Bronwyn Bishop loses Lib preselection for upcoming election

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[quote]Former speaker Bronwyn Bishop has lost a preselection ballot in her Sydney seat of Mackellar.

Former Liberal staffer Jason Falinski defeated Ms Bishop 51 to 39 in a meeting lasting five-and-a-half hours on Saturday evening.

The result will still need to be formally endorsed by the Liberal Party executive.

Ms Bishop, who has held the seat on Sydney's northern beaches for 22 years, left the meeting with a group of supporters.

"It's been an honour to serve the people of Mackellar," she told reporters on her way out.

Before Saturday's ballot some party elders publicly criticised Ms Bishop's decision to recontest the seat, arguing it was time for the 73-year-old to retire and allow new blood into the ranks.

Mr Falinski said it was an honour to have been selected.

"I want to thank the Liberal Party for bestowing this honour on me," he said as he left the meeting.

"It is a privilege to be given their faith to represent the Liberal Party on the northern beaches. There's no other seat that I've ever wanted to represent in the federal parliament than Mackellar."

Mr Falinski also praised the outgoing MP for her "long service and dedication to the Liberal cause".

Mr Falinski, a moderate, and hard-right candidate Walter Villatora were widely seen as the biggest threats to Ms Bishop.

[I]Mr Villatora was this week publicly endorsed by former prime minister Tony Abbott[/I], who once described himself as the "political lovechild" of Ms Bishop and John Howard.[/quote]

[url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-16/bronwyn-bishop-loses-preselection-fight-in-seat-of-mackellar/7332274[/url]

What a stellar endorsement there.

[sb27]

Rip in pieces madam speaker. May you forever have fond memories of how it all came down thanks to your taxpayer-funded helicopter joyrides.