Buswell quits Liberal leadership

Troy Buswell has announced he will step down as the state's opposition leader but will stay on with the Liberal Party.

His announcement today will fuel speculation that former leader Colin Barnett, due to retire at the next election, will regain leadership of the party.

If Mr Barnett does want to take the leadership, the Liberal Party will need to change its preselection plans for his electorate of Cottesloe.

Former Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA policy director Deidre Willmott has already been endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Cottelsoe, on the expectation that Mr Barnett will retire.

Mr Buswell has had very low approval ratings since infamous bra-snapping and chair sniffing incidents came to light earlier this year.

The change of leadership comes as political pundits speculate Premier Alan Carpenter could call an election as soon as next month.

More in this afternoon's edition of Daily Business Alerts.