Paul Toole axed as NSW Nationals leader, sending Coalition into a spin on eve of parliament’s return

Former deputy premier faced leadership spill after being accused of misleading colleagues

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The New South Wales opposition has been left scrambling to redraw its coalition agreement less than 24 hours before parliament resumes, after the Nationals leader, Paul Toole, was axed in favour of Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders.

The former deputy premier was defeated in a leadership spill on Monday afternoon after fellow National Ben Franklin confirmed he would run for upper house president in a move described as “treacherous” by the opposition leader, Mark Speakman.