LNP’s secret revolt revealed STEVEN WARDILL, The Courier-Mail February 21.2016 12:00am Subscriber only DISGRUNTLED Liberal Nationals MPs attempted to cobble together a leadership coup during last week’s horror sitting of State Parliament for the Opposition. The Sunday Mail can reveal the backbench rebellion descended into threats over future roles on the Opposition frontbench and brutal character assessments.

The dissident faction, made up predominantly of MPs elected during Campbell Newman’s rise to power in 2012, had hoped their sledgehammer strategy would gather enough numbers to call a spill of leadership position’s at tomorrow’s partyroom meeting.

It was unclear yesterday whether any spill motion would proceed.

The group has been agitating to install former scripture union disciple and rugby league referee Tim Mander into the leadership after he last year narrowly lost out to Lawrence Springborg.

It gathered momentum after Warrego MP Ann Leahy was admonished for misleading a parliamentary committee.

Mr Mander, the education spokesman, maintained a low profile during the week apart from an attack on a federally-funded anti-bullying campaign that informs kids about cross dressing and gender issues.

The speech was lampooned by Labor as a “dog whistle” appeal by Mr Mander for support from the LNP’s far-right MPs.

The LNP’s leadership imbroglio comes despite leading Labor in the latest opinion polls 52 to 48 on a two-party preferred basis.

It is understood ambitious Chatsworth MP Steve Minnikin and Sunshine Coast­ based former minister Steve Dickson acted as Mr Mander’s chief acolytes.

However, a host of MPs rejected their overtures including Aspley’s Tracy Davis, Mudgeeraba’s Ros Bates, Redland’s Matt McEachan, Glass House’s Andrew Powell, Broadwater’s Verity Barton and Kawana’s Jarrod Bleijie.

MPs who spurned the advances of Mr Mander’s spear-carriers were warned they’d be booted to the backbench.

It was described to The Sunday Mail as “amateur hour”, “just madness” and a “high degree of f—wittery”.

Mr Bleijie dismissed suggestions he was considering following the lead of Mr Seeney and Mr McVeigh and wresting the federal seat of Fisher from Mai Brough.

“There is no vacancy in Fisher. Mai Brough has my full support,” he said.