Dear Cory

Your resignation is not one of insignificance and it has been met with a mixed reaction from Liberal Party members.

Firstly there are those in the parliament and the membership who have always wished you gone. These people now sigh in relief that they can exist in their small-l liberal world without having to worry about your large profile crawling in on their safe space. I’m certain Christopher Pyne feels liberated that after so many years he can finally publicly condemn you on social media rather than squabbling with you in the back room.

These people of course out themselves as the enemy from within, defying the strength of the Liberal Party as a broad Church.

Then there are those who will call you a coward and demand you give up the seat you won for the Liberal Party. Most of these people will attack you mainly because you aren’t a Liberal anymore, not because they themselves have any idea what principles they stand for that they feel you have abandoned. They will demand that you either stand inside the party or you are the enemy. These people aren’t intellects and frankly value their membership and not much else; I wouldn’t bother with those eggs.

But then there are those like me. Who joined the party on the values you preached for so long. Who understood the importance of freedom, faith, free enterprise, the flag and of course, the family institution.

We believed you when you pledged your allegiance, when you said there was a place for us in mainstream politics, and that place was the Liberal Party.

We believed you when you told us that the Liberal Party was the natural party of government.

We believed you when you said that the Liberal Party was broad enough for those of us without radical ideas for change, but who wanted to preserve our way of life. You told us there was a home for us here.

You made us feel like Members of Parliament like you would advocate on our behalf in the party room as well as out of us, for these ideals.

But now you have abandoned us, you have ripped the carpet out from under us and made everything you said sound a bit ridiculous. You either knew there was no home for us here all along, or you are whimsical with your decision in changing your mind after so long.

This is not a day of celebration for any Liberal Party member.

As Senator Brandis said in the chamber, “it is always a sad day when someone leaves the family.”

And you’re like the older brother who just walked out and abandoned your brothers and sisters while the parents are fighting in the kitchen. You couldn’t be bothered we the family anymore.

I hope you achieve what you wish to, I know you will advocate for the principles you always did.

But in the process, you have left many of the faithful behind, and that is disappointing beyond measure.

Kind regards

Just another Liberal member.

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