Two key backers of Angus Taylor have formally requested a Liberal party room meeting, where the conservative MP will challenge Sussan Ley for the job of opposition leader.

Opposition assistant defence spokesman Phil Thompson has resigned, following Taylor stepping down from the shadow ministry on Wednesday night.

Thompson and deputy whip Jess Collins have written to Ley, asking for an urgent party room meeting to resolve ongoing leadership speculation.

“We have been in a death spiral, and we need to get out of it. Angus Taylor has the ability to do that,” Mr Thompson said in Canberra on Thursday morning.

Thompson said the timing of the spill would be up to the whip, who is responsible for organising meetings and MPs’ movements.

Liberal senator Claire Chandler, previously the opposition’s cybersecurity and science spokeswoman, has also quit the shadow ministry and declared her support for Taylor.

The ABC is reporting the key conservative figures, shadow home affairs minister Jonno Duniam and shadow finance minister James Paterson, have also resigned. Both were present at the secret meeting in Melbourne in late January between Taylor and another potential leadership rival, Andrew Hastie.

More resignations are expected throughout Thursday.

Ley’s backers concede any leadership vote will be tight, while Taylor’s camp insists it has the numbers.

Supporters of Ley argue she hasn’t been given enough time to improve the party’s position.

Backbench senator Sarah Henderson declared her support for Taylor and backed moderate Jane Hume to run as his deputy.

“We cannot continue as we are. We’ve declined very rapidly since the election,” Henderson said in the corridors of parliament.

Hume, who was dumped from the shadow ministry after the 2025 election, said Taylor would be a “terrific leader”.

“He is a very deep thinker and a great intellect in our party. He’s got incredible experience at a number of portfolios,” she told Sydney radio 2GB.

“He’s very good in city seats, but he comes from a country seat himself and is naturally a country boy.

“He’s a very human human.”

Hume, a former shadow finance minister, also said the Liberals were struggling in the polls and change was needed.

“No one is voting for us. No one is listening to us,” Hume said.

Announcing his resignation on Wednesday night, Taylor said he had supported Ley’s leadership through a difficult period but it was time for change.

“We can’t mince with words. The Liberal Party is at the worst position it has been since 1944 when the party was formed,” he said.

His resignation has allowed him to openly canvass for votes before a leadership ballot.

“I don’t believe Sussan Ley is in a position to be able to lead the party as it needs to be led from here,” Taylor said.

“What we need right now is strong leadership, clear direction and a courageous focus on our values, and the first two priorities should be protecting our way of life and restoring our standard of living.”

Shadow attorney-general Andrew Wallace and housing spokesman Andrew Bragg said they still backed Ley and she hadn’t been given a reasonable opportunity to succeed.

Some of Ley’s backers have previously suggested a petition signed by a majority of Liberals must be presented for a party room meeting to be held – a similar tactic used by former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull when his leadership came under threat in 2018.

It is understood Ley is not wedded to that strategy and may be open to holding a meeting if just two MPs call for it.

-AAP