First-term Liberal MP Jordan Lane has announced he will quit state politics at the March election, saying his time representing the seat of Ryde took a toll, a departure that will likely decimate the party's chances of holding the electorate and makes him the seventh Liberal MP to announce he will quit.
"Hey Ryde, it's not you, it's me," Lane said in a social media video announcing the decision. "That kind of time takes a toll and I've made a really difficult decision to step away from politics for a while."
The 32-year-old, one of the youngest parliamentarians at Macquarie Street, won Ryde on a margin of just 54 votes and has spent most of his adult life representing the electorate, including as mayor before he entered state parliament. Senior Liberal sources not authorised to speak publicly said the party had already been panicked about its chances in Ryde, where a split of the conservative vote thanks to One Nation could hand Labor the seat, and Lane's incumbency, the party's chief advantage, has now been taken away.
Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said in a statement: "On behalf of the NSW Liberal Party, I thank Jordan for his service to the NSW Parliament, the Liberal Party and, most importantly, the people of Ryde. I have no doubt that we have not seen the last of Jordan in public life and wish him and his family all the best for the future."
In his announcement video, Lane said he believed Ryde councillor and operator of the popular Humans of Eastwood meme page, Justin Li, should be the next Liberal member for Ryde. Li has not been officially selected as the Liberal candidate. Lane said this was not how he expected his time in politics to end, but "sometimes you just know in your heart when something is the right decision".
Liberal sources have expressed dismay that MPs were leaving it so late to announce their departure, leaving Sloane to fight for the premiership with about a third of her lower house colleagues jumping ship. Earlier this week Mark Coure, who holds the marginal Oatley seat, also announced he would retire from state politics at the March election, having been endorsed as the Liberal candidate before party headquarters began hunting for a new candidate. Senior frontbenchers Alister Henskens and James Griffin, and long-serving MPs Ray Williams, Tanya Davies and Mark Taylor have all announced they will depart at the election.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Lane's incumbency was the Liberal Party's chief advantage in Ryde, a seat he won on a margin of just 54 votes; his exit after one term likely decimates the party's chances of holding it.
- Sloane enters the March election campaign with about a third of her lower house colleagues departing, thinning the opposition's ranks and its frontbench.
- A split of the conservative vote thanks to One Nation in Ryde could hand the seat to Labor.
Background
Jordan Lane is a first-term NSW Liberal MP for the Sydney seat of Ryde, among the youngest members of state parliament and a former mayor of the area. The opposition, led by Kellie Sloane, faces a state election in March and has seen a steady run of retirements, including senior frontbenchers and long-serving members.
Key Perspectives
Jordan Lane: said the time representing Ryde "takes a toll" and that stepping away was "a really difficult decision", and nominated Ryde councillor Justin Li as the person who should be the next Liberal member.
Kellie Sloane: thanked Lane for his service and said she has "no doubt that we have not seen the last of Jordan in public life".
Senior Liberal sources: expressed dismay that MPs were leaving it so late to announce their departure.
What to Watch
- Whether Justin Li is officially selected as the Liberal candidate for Ryde.
- Whether the One Nation vote split hands the seat to Labor at the March election.
- Whether further retirements follow among the remaining lower house ranks.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedLane is the seventh Liberal MP to announce he will quit state politics.The Age - Latest News: “He is the seventh Liberal MP to announce they will quit politics at the state election”
- SupportedLane’s departure after one term removes the party’s chief advantage in marginal Ryde: his incumbency.The Age - Latest News: “Lane’s extraordinary departure after just one term will likely decimate Liberal chances of holding on to the seat, which the 32-year-old won on a margin of just 54 votes.”
- SupportedLane’s departure will likely decimate the Liberals’ chances of holding Ryde.The Age - Latest News: “Lane’s extraordinary departure after just one term will likely decimate Liberal chances of holding on to the seat”
- SupportedLane announced he will quit state politics at the March election, saying his time representing Ryde had taken a toll.The Age - Latest News: “Jordan Lane has shocked colleagues by announcing he will quit state politics at the March election, saying his time representing Ryde had taken a toll”
- SupportedLane said, “Hey Ryde, it’s not you, it’s me,” in a social media video.The Age - Latest News: ““Hey Ryde, it’s not you, it’s me,” Lane said in a social media video.”
- SupportedLane said, “That kind of time takes a toll and I’ve made a really difficult decision to step away from politics for a while.”The Age - Latest News: ““That kind of time takes a toll and I’ve made a really difficult decision to step away from politics for a while,” he said.”
- SupportedLane is 32 years old.The Age - Latest News: “which the 32-year-old won on a margin of just 54 votes.”
- SupportedLane won Ryde by a margin of 54 votes.The Age - Latest News: “which the 32-year-old won on a margin of just 54 votes.”
- SupportedLane had spent most of his adult life representing Ryde, including as mayor before becoming the state MP.The Age - Latest News: “Lane, who is one of the youngest parliamentarians in Macquarie Street, said he had spent most of his adult life representing Ryde, including as mayor before he became the state MP.”
- SupportedSloane thanked Lane for his service and wished him and his family well in a statement.The Age - Latest News: ““On behalf of the NSW Liberal Party, I thank Jordan for his service to the NSW Parliament, the Liberal Party and, most importantly, the people of Ryde. “I have no doubt that we have not seen the last of Jordan in public life and wish him and his family all the best for the future.””
- SupportedLane said he believed Justin Li should be the next Liberal member for Ryde, and Li had not been officially selected as the candidate.The Age - Latest News: “In his announcement video Lane said he believed Ryde Councillor and operator of the popular Humans of Eastwood meme page, Justin Li, should be the next Liberal member for Ryde. Li has not been officially selected as the Liberal candidate.”
- SupportedLane said, “sometimes you just know in your heart when something is the right decision”.The Age - Latest News: “Lane said this was not how he expected his time in politics to end, but “sometimes you just know in your heart when something is the right decision”.”