Why have Malcolm Turnbull and his allies suddenly stepped up their campaign to destroy Tony Abbott, tonight telling journalists Turnbull now has the numbers to replace Abbott next week?

Why have they leaked and briefed and heckled and done everything possible to wreck Abbott’s comeback in the two weeks since they lost the spill motion?

Because next week is Turnbull’s last best chance to be Prime Minister.

Time has suddenly become his enemy.

Tony Abbott has performed well these past couple of weeks. He is changing as critics claimed he wouldn’t. His poll numbers are recovering. it is now clear he could indeed beat Bill Shorten if he were given a loyal team, rather than one undermined by the likes of Laming, Roy and Sinodinos.

That’s one pressure on Turnbull.

Another is Scott Morrison. Morrison has performed brilliantly as Social Services Minister. The man who stopped the boat now charms the votes. He looks genial and constructive. His presentation of the problems with rising welfare payments this week was masterly.

His media presentation skills are of a high order, and he now commands the respect of most interviewers. More importantly, unlike Turnbull he has not offended the party’s conservative base, despite not being a conservative himself, and will not split the party if made leader.

He is the classic compromise candidate, and will only grown stronger with every passing week.

Julie Bishop, too, can no longer be relied upon by Turnbull. Indeed, an unnamed supporter was cited on Channel 7 saying that she would stand against Turnbull in any spill.

As time passes, Turnbull is likely to grow weaker and Morrison and Abbott stronger, with Bishop’s crucial support up for grabs.

So Turnbull needs to call on another showdown as soon as possible. He needs to destroy Abbott, not wait in hope for him to fail.

He needs to be a wrecker, and wrecking is now what you see. The time is fast approaching where he faces two options - to knife Abbott or be sacked as a snake.

UPDATE

The ABC’s 7.30 washes Malcolm Turnbull clean:

SABRA LANE, POLITICAL EDITOR: ... Malcolm Turnbull might be the one to challenge, but he is not agitating for this at all.

Seriously?

On ABC Radio National Breakfast, three women of the Left - Fran Kelly, Laura Tingle and Michelle Grattan - all agree with each other that the media has not pushed along the campaign against Abbott, and agree Abbott is hopeless etc etc etc.