Nationals WA struggling to find Vasse challenger against Opposition ally Libby Mettam

The WA Nationals are struggling to find any takers to challenge Liberal Party leader Libby Mettam in Vasse.

Despite trumpeting a field of new candidates earlier this month, the regional party failed to mention Vasse in its big announcement and then went to ground when the Times asked whether it had abandoned plans to challenge Ms Mettam on home turf.

An Opposition insider said the turmoil within the Liberal Party — with jostling to oust Ms Mettam from the leadership in favour of unseated candidate Basil Zempilas before the March poll reported — a prime chance for Opposition partners the Nationals to follow through on a pledge to contest all seats and perhaps even score a surprise win.

The only problem so far is the lack of a suitable candidate.

However, Nationals WA president Julie Freeman insisted fielding a candidate to compete in Vasse was still in the works.

“We plan to endorse several new candidates across WA in the coming weeks,” she said.

Ms Freeman did not make any specific commitment to Vasse, choosing to outline her party’s policies on stamp duty, payroll tax, trading hours and road safety rather than respond to speculation no one willing to take on Ms Mettam had come forward.

Ms Mettam declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the nominations page on the Nationals website remained live.

Earlier this month, the Nationals introduced a further seven candidates confirmed at the latest State council meeting, with Bunbury also left off the list.

The new candidates represented metropolitan seats as well Albany, Kalgoorlie and the Kimberley.