Cory Bernardi raises prospect of Liberal party split over Malcolm Turnbull win

The senator, who calls the leadership spill treachery, says 'who knows what would happen' if the party becomes more like Labor under its new leader

Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has raised the threat of a split in the Liberal party over the new leadership, invoking the damaging battle that saw Malcolm Turnbull lose his leadership in opposition over climate change policy.

Bernardi, who has described this week's leadership spill which deposed Tony Abbott as "treachery", was asked by conservative commentator Andrew Bolt if there was a possibility of a split.