VETERAN Liberal MLA Jeremy Hanson has been ousted from the deputy leader’s role in a party room spill on Monday morning.

Leanne Castley, a first term MLA from Yerrabi, has been elected to that position.

Leader Elizabeth Lee said the decision to install Ms Castley “was not one that was taken lightly” but would provide the Canberra Liberals with “a strong leadership team going into the 2024 election”.

Hanson, a former leader and experienced politician, is known to have privately had misgivings with Lee’s leadership, but didn’t have the party room numbers to challenge her. He led the party effectively, especially during the Calvary Hospital take-over, when Ms Lee was on maternity leave for much of this year.

In a veiled swipe at Hanson, Lee said: “Going into an election year, it is more important than ever to have a leadership team that is in lockstep, and I know Leanne will support me 100 per cent and the direction we are taking to win government in 2024.

“I thank outgoing Deputy Leader Jeremy Hanson for his work over the last couple of years in the position and look forward to working closely with Leanne as the Canberra Liberals put forward a fresh alternate vision for Canberra in the lead up to the election next October.”

Ms Lee also indicated there will be a reshuffle of shadow ministries announced in the coming days.

Over recent weeks the party has been unable to elect a president and Ms Lee and her Liberal colleagues have also been banned from appearing on the breakfast and drive programs of 2CC after the party tried to apply commercial pressure to stem criticism of Lee’s leadership by breakfast announcer Stephen Cenatiempo.