is his time over or did something go down?

Malcolm Turnbull, who was Minister for Communications, announced that he was resigning from Cabinet in order to challenge Abbott for the leadership. The Liberal Party (who are, in fact, the Conservatives – don’t let the name fool you) voted between them tonight, and Turnbull won the vote 54-44. 

Not surprisingly. Abbott has been regarded by the wider community as a laughingstock and an embarrassment for ages, and a great many of his own party find him impossible. He lurches from one cringe-worthy situation to the next. 

I believe the only thing stopping a leadership challenge before now was the spectre of the Rudd-Gillard leadership takeover (when the Liberals absolutely crucified the Labor Party over ‘instability’ and ‘backstabbing’ etc etc.). I guess that different rules apply, though, when it’s your own party doing the takeover. 🙂

So yeah – something went down!