Turnbull likes tweet supporting Kerryn Phelps in Wentworth by-election

The ‘like’, while quickly deleted, comes as some in the Liberals are pressuring the former prime minister to intervene and support Dave Sharma’s campaign for his former seat

Malcolm Turnbull likes tweet supporting Kerryn Phelps in Wentworth by-election. Source: AAP

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s twitter account ‘liked’ a post that backed a “strong independent win” in Wentworth on Thursday - before quickly deleting it.

The original tweet was from a man who claimed to be “handing out policy info and  how-to-vote cards for Kerry Phelps”, who has emerged as the biggest electoral threat to the Liberals in the Saturday poll.

The tweet "liked" by the former PM's Twitter account. Source: Twitter

Mr Turnbull has not campaigned for his would-be successor Mr Sharma, despite strongly backing his pre-selection.

Former PM John Howard hit the campaign trail on Thursday.

Various cabinet ministers have insisted Mr Turnbull backs Mr Sharma in the by-election and does not agree with his son, Alex Turnbull, who has been vocal in urging an anti-Liberal protest vote since his father was ousted from the leadership.

The former PM Malcolm Turnbull. Source: AAP

“Malcolm wants Dave Sharma to win Wentworth because he will be a future cabinet minister in Government,” Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said.