In 1981, Turnbull stood for Liberal Party preselection in the Division of Wentworth prior to the 1981 Wentworth by-election. He was defeated by Peter Coleman, who went on to win the seat. ... He let his membership of the Liberal Party lapse in 1986,before rejoining in 2000.
In that time Turnbull applied to the ALP to become a Labor Senator, Graeme Richardson, obviously a great judge of character saw through Turnbull and had his aspirations squashed. Mal the knife then set about destroying sitting Liberal Peter King in a ruthless and highly questionable pre selection battle gaining what was the safest Liberal seat in NSW. Served inconspicuously until he again unsheathed his knife and went for Abbott in another ruthless assassination of a duly elected Liberal. Turnbull not once defended Wentworth until the Liberal banner, always was "Turnbull for Wentworth" and on attaining the PM ship became the "Turnbull Coalition"
