Bishop best choice to lead

LIBERAL MPs have a golden opportunity today to select their first female leader and prime minister if they have the guts.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is ideal for the top job as a three-way showdown looms with Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison as Malcolm Turnbull is certain to stand aside.

Ms Bishop is our best elder stateswoman and is well respected within Australia and across the globe.

The deputy Liberal leader has quietly and doggedly remained a deputy to Tony Abbott and Mr Turnbull. She’s been deputy leader of the party for 11 years, as far back as the leadership of Brendan Nelson.

Ms Bishop is well regarded across the Australian electorate and is the Liberals’ best chance of winning the next federal election against Labor’s Bill Shorten.

She has the runs on the board and has had a long apprenticeship for the job.

While she won’t appeal to the conservative right of the Liberal Party, she is likely to appeal to swinging voters in the centre – those people out in marginal electorates such as Leichhardt who work hard, pay their bills and who actually decide who wins an election.

Her elevation as the party’s first female leader might also help convince some of those voters that the Liberal Party is not just the boys’ club that many consider it to be.

Ms Bishop is recognised. She has personality. She’s tough and strident. She has razor-sharp humour. She’s personable. Most importantly, though, she’s stable.

Ms Bishop is also loyal and pragmatic, two qualities which are respected in a prime minister.

Let’s get it over and done with today and start governing for the good of all Australians. Nick Dalton Deputy Editor