Updated
Malcolm Turnbull says he was ousted by his Liberal colleagues because they thought he would win the next federal election.
- Mr Turnbull said the Coalition was in a worse position now than under his leadership
- Said his ouster was a "form of madness" by those who feared he would win
- Mr Turnbull was appearing on the BBC's Politics Live program in the UK
Mr Turnbull told the BBC "internal politics of the Liberal Party" lead to his demise as Australia's 29th Prime Minister.
"As I said at the time it was essentially a form of madness that occurred, whipped up internally and also amplified by voices in the media," Mr Turnbull told the Politics Live program in London.
"Basically, you could argue that their concern was not that I'd lose the election but rather that I'd win it."
Host Andrew Neil challenged Mr Turnbull on the claim, telling him "that's not credible" and reminding him the Government was behind the opposition in 40 consecutive polls.
But Mr Turnbull stuck by the claim, saying the Coalition had "level pegging" in the polls.
"We had essentially drawn even, and in our own polling in the marginal seats, which is obviously the only ones that matter, you know, in terms of determining government, we were ahead," Mr Turnbull said.
The former member for Wentworth was removed as prime minister after a Liberal Party leadership spill in August last year, and subsequently resigned from parliament.
He was replaced by Scott Morrison, whom Mr Turnbull said was in a "worse position" than he was in when the coup happened.
"Normally when you replace a leader, you replace the unpopular person who's fate is sealed with somebody who is much more popular and gives you a chance at winning," Mr Turnbull said.
"That was not what happened.
"The party on any of the objective indications is polling in a worse position that it was in August, I mean you can't deny that's a fact."
The 64-year-old also ruled out any further tilts at politics.
"I'm always interested in politics but I won't be engaging in the partisan, political battle," he said.
"I'm a Liberal, no question about that, but I've retired from politics."
His comments come in the same week that former foreign minister Julie Bishop, who missed out on the top job in the same spill, told the WA Times that she would have beaten Bill Shorten at this year's upcoming election.
This week also saw the resignation of defence ministry frontbenchers Christopher Pyne and Steve Ciobo, who announced they will not contest the next election.
They are the latest in a ministerial exodus that includes Kelly O'Dwyer, Michael Keenan and Nigel Scullion.
Topics: government-and-politics, world-politics, federal-election, turnbull-malcolm, united-kingdom, australia
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