Liberal party on brink of dumping first female leader with Taylor’s backers confident of defeating Ley

A handful of votes may decide the next Liberal leader, with Sussan Ley to stare down her challenger, Angus Taylor, on Friday morning

• The Libspill is on: Taylor v Ley set for Liberal leadership showdown on Friday morning - podcast

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The Liberal party is on the brink of dumping its first female leader, with Angus Taylor's backers confident of defeating Sussan Ley in Friday's leadership vote.

The embattled opposition leader faced a tide of 10 resignations by 7pm on Thursday, with frontbenchers including Dan Tehan, Michaelia Cash, Jonathon Duniam, James McGrath and Dean Smith all abandoning Ley to vote for Taylor.