Simon Kennedy to run for former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s seat

Consultant Simon Kennedy will succeed Scott Morrison as a candidate for the federal seat of Cook.

Mr Kennedy won Liberal Party pre-selection over Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce on Monday night and will contest the southern Sydney seat in a by-election triggered by the resignation of the former prime minister.

The vote was over in the first round after hundreds of party faithful gathered in the shire.

Mr Kennedy received 158 votes to Mr Pesce’s 90.

War widow Gwen Cherne - the only woman to contest the pre-selection - came third with 35 votes.

Ms Cherne had the backing of former Liberal prime minister and party giant John Howard.

Ben Britton was the fourth person to put his hand up but fell short with only 13 votes.

Cook is considered a safe Liberal seat, with Mr Morrison holding it by more than 12 per cent at the last federal election with a 55 per cent primary vote.

Despite a more than eight per cent drop in Mr Morrison’s primary vote and a small uptick for Labor, the latter’s primary vote of 25 per cent was still less than half that of the Liberals.

Labor is unlikely to throw major resources at trying to win the seat.

Cook has been held by the Liberals since 1975.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday the party was yet to decide whether it would formally run a candidate.

“Cook is not a seat that it would be expected that we would win, but we’ll wait and see,” he told ABC Radio.

Mr Kennedy is a partner of consulting firm Banksia after leaving McKinsey, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He was unsuccessful in his bid for the Sydney seat of Bennelong at the 2022 federal election.

Labor claimed Mr Howard’s former seat for only the second time since its establishment in 1972 after an almost eight per cent swing against the Liberals.