‘I want to be able to speak out’: Craig Kelly resigns from the Liberal Party to move to the crossbench

Mr Morrison told reporters he learned of Mr Kelly’s decision “at the same time he announced it to the party room”.

The Prime Minister said he had set out some “very clear standards” a fortnight ago following Mr Kelly’s public clash with Labor MP Tanya Plibersek over treatments for COVID-19.

“He no longer felt that he could meet those commitments, but I can tell you, my standards don’t change,” Mr Morrison said.

“He’s made his decision today and by his own explanation, he has said that his actions were slowing the government down and he believed the best way for him to proceed was to remove himself from the party room.”

In a letter to Mr Morrison, seen by this masthead, Mr Kelly said had resigned with the “heaviest of hearts” and said he hoped Mr Morrison would go one to be “one of Australia’s greatest and longest serving prime ministers.”

He acknowledged his controversial views, such as his criticism of Australian health authorities’ refusal to support hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin as a treatment for the coronavirus, had “not helped make the boat go faster”.

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“This has made it difficult for you and the government. However, at all times I have acted upon my conscious (sic) and my beliefs – not political expediency,” he wrote.

Mr Kelly said he would only be able to speak “fearlessly” and “faithfully” about such issues as an independent for the remainder of the term.

His defection to sit as an independent reduces the government number of seats to 76 in the 151-seat House of Representatives, which means Mr Morrison will need at least one of the crossbench to guarantee support on the floor.

Mr Morrison dismissed the suggestion the stunning move would affect the government’s legislative agenda.

“The government will continue to function, as it has successfully,” he said. “As the government has led Australia through the worst situation we’ve seen since the Second World War, we will continue to do so undistracted.”

Mr Kelly’s move to the crossbench has the potential to embolden rebel Nationals MP who are seeking amendments to an energy bill, which would expand the Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s remit to coal, nuclear and carbon capture and storage.

He had been under pressure from Liberals not to cross the floor. As of his resignation, there are 61 Liberals, 16 Nationals, 68 Labor MPs, one Green, one Katter’s Australia Party MP, one Centre Alliance MP and four independents, including Mr Kelly.

Since the Coalition formed government Mr Kelly has been one of its most prolific media performers and was an outspoken critic of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull over energy policy.

He first won the seat of Hughes in 2010 after the retirement of Danna Vale and both Mr Turnbull and Mr Morrison have been forced to intervene to save him from preselection challenges.

It was also revealed by The Guardian earlier this week a staffer who is currently under investigation for alleged inappropriate behaviour towards women is still working in Mr Kelly’s office, despite being the subject of an apprehended violence order.