The NSW Right is ducking for cover in a mad frenzy of denial over the political demise of John Brogden.

John Howard has a letter in today’s Australian denying a Mike Steketee claim that the PM was “satisfied” Brogden resigned, Tony Abbott writes to Crikey denying any involvement in Brogden’s downfall, and the new leader Peter Debnam stumbles when it is revealed five of his backbenchers were told they would be “safe” if he got their votes in the leadership battle.

And if all that isn’t already scaring the pants off the moderates in the party, one of Debnam’s chief backers, ultra-Right Upper House member David Clarke, has started muscle-flexing already. Clarke is the boss of Alex Hawke, the Young Lib Brogden accused of being part of the team leaking salacious snippets to the media.

For a party hell bent on wooing the voters in the next NSW elections, all the current in house activity means voters might have to put up with the current mess of late trains and poor education and health because it’s so much safer to vote for more of the same.