WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie declares ‘war’ on One Nation amid rapid rise of right-wing party

WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has declared “war” on One Nation, vowing his party has plenty of fight left amid the rise of the Pauline Hanson-led force.

The frontbencher and former SAS commander had vowed to “never surrender” to the popular minor party during a joint-party room meeting in Canberra this week.

His email on Friday to supporters doubled down on his position and declared that he would not “bow the knee to them”.

“I explained this to the Joint Party Room this week in Parliament, and my comments were briefed to the media. Yes, I said I’d never surrender to One Nation,” he wrote.

“And yes, I said that they’d have to take me out in a box before that happens.”

Mr Hastie, who is a known leadership aspirant, has been the focus of One Nation in his outer Perth seat of Canning.

One Nation supporters have also targeted Mr Hastie for his testimony against alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith who Senator Hanson actively and publicly supports.

“One Nation has declared war on me, so they shall have war,” he said.

“I won’t be pushed around by One Nation. Nor will I bow the knee to them.

“This is now personal, and they will have to blast me out of Canning.”

In a rallying cry to his conservative colleagues who have been embattled by poor opinion polling, Mr Hastie urged them to keep up the fight.

“There’s plenty of fight left in us,” he wrote.

“We’re firing up for the biggest battle since Sir Robert Menzies formed the Liberal Party in 1944.

“I believe the Liberals can defeat Labor to win government, take back control of Australia, and build our nation into a respected regional power.

“But if One Nation wants to meet us on the battlefield, then so be it.

“They should heed Sun Tzu’s wisdom to never press a determined foe.

“Two years is a long time in politics, and One Nation will be closely scrutinised.”