Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Liberals don’t get much bluer than Philip Ruddock who spent 43 years in federal parliament, was a minister in the Howard government, a former president of the party’s NSW division and until last year, mayor of Hornsby Shire Council.That is why Ruddock’s latest move has left some Liberals in the leafy upper north shore fuming about a perceived betrayal – He has appeared in a video with wannabe teal Tina Brown, who’s challenging Liberal MP Julian Leeser in Berowra (Phil’s old seat), to have a crack at the local council’s proposed new rules on tree protections.Perceived betrayal… Liberal veteran Philip Ruddock.Credit: James BrickwoodFor a Climate 200-backed candidate trying to make inroads in a blue ribbon seat, it’s about as good an endorsement as you can get. And it’s the latest in a series of deteriorating relationships between Ruddock and local Liberals.After serving as mayor since 2017, octogenarian Ruddock wanted another four-year term but was dumped in a preselection contest last year, for which he blamed property developer interests.In response, Ruddock’s wife, Heather, quit the Liberals and is supporting Brown’s campaign. The former minister, meanwhile, has been liking a few of Brown’s LinkedIn posts, and even written for her local newspaper, The Post. That video featured on Brown’s socials was filmed in the Ruddock front yard.LoadingRuddock told us he’d made the video with Brown because of a deep dedication to protecting Hornsby’s trees.“I took this position because my father [former state Liberal minister and Hornsby mayor Max Ruddock] initiated the tree preservation orders, and they meant a lot to me as the former mayor,” he said.“I’ve made it very clear that I remain a member of the Liberal party, not working for Tina Brown or her campaign.”
