Updated May 01, 2017 11:57:58 <\/p>\n
Long-serving Liberal MP Duncan McFetridge is quitting the party to sit on the crossbenches of the South Australian Parliament after narrowly losing a preselection fight for his Adelaide electorate of Morphett. <\/p>\n
Dr McFetridge told the ABC he would take a \"few days off\" before making a formal statement to Parliament next week. <\/p>\n
He would not say if he planned to contest the next election as an independent. <\/p>\n
\"I have not made any plans. I am having a lot of discussion with supporters as to which direction I take,\" he said. <\/p>\n
Dr McFetridge has been a member of State Parliament for about 15 years and held a range of shadow portfolios during the Liberals' years in opposition. <\/p>\n
He had gone into last month's preselection fight with the public backing of party leader Steven Marshall but lost by a single vote, after a three-way contest. <\/p>\n
South Australian voters will go to the polls next March, with the current Mayor of Holdfast Bay, Stephen Patterson, to contest Morphett for the Liberals. <\/p>\n
In Labor ranks, party veteran Frances Bedford quit the ALP recently after Health Minister Jack Snelling was endorsed as the candidate for Florey for next year's election. <\/p>\n
She said she would remain the local member until at least election time. <\/p>\n
Mr Snelling is the member for the neighbouring Playford electorate, but is shifting because of the boundary changes from a recent redistribution. <\/p>\n
Topics: liberals, political-parties, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, glenelg-5045, adelaide-5000, sa <\/p>\n
First posted May 01, 2017 11:44:32 <\/p>\n
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Duncan McFetridge quits Liberal Party after Morphett preselection loss - ABC Online<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Updated May 01, 2017 11:57:58 Long-serving Liberal MP Duncan McFetridge is quitting the party to sit on the crossbenches of the South Australian Parliament after narrowly losing a preselection fight for his Adelaide electorate of Morphett. Dr McFetridge told the ABC he would take a \"few days off\" before making a formal statement to Parliament next week Continue reading