Christine Forster has announced she’s dropping out of the race to be the Liberal candidate for the seat of Wentworth.

The Sydney seat became vacant when former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull resigned from parliament on Friday, triggering a by-election. Forster, who is a City of Sydney councilor, had announced her candidacy for pre-selection for the seat but now says she’s pulling back.

Forster said she has been forced to rethink her position after her candidacy became a “proxy for division” within the party. Forster who gained a high profile during the marriage equality campaign is the sister of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Earlier this year she wed her longtime partner Virginia Flitcroft.

OIP Staff