Labor’s secret weapon? Defeated Liberal MP claims Barnaby Joyce even less popular than Scott Morrison

Barnaby Joyce has hit back after a defeated Liberal MP claimed the Nationals leader was an even bigger drag on the government's vote in metro areas than the prime minister, Scott Morrison.

Joyce told Guardian Australia the Liberals should not "wallow in their loss" after the outgoing Liberal MP claimed women in blue-ribbon metro seats were "not for turning" and "deserted" the government because independents successfully linked Liberals to Joyce.

The MP also revealed that after Joyce returned as Nationals leader, the prime minister's office attempted to persuade him to stay off national and metro media. The move was designed to avoid outings such as Joyce speaking over Tanya Plibersek on Sunrise, which the MP said was a big turnoff for metro constituents.

The comments heap further pressure on Joyce ahead of a Monday party room meeting, at which Victorian MP Darren Chester will put up his hand to replace him as Nationals leader.

The intervention echoes sentiments from former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack, who has said there were "no campaigns against my name and my reputation in inner-city seats" - a clear reference to warnings from independents and Greens that a vote for Liberal moderates was a "vote for Barnaby Joyce".

Other defeated Liberals have pointed the finger at Scott Morrison's unpopularity and the trio of issues on which teal independents campaigned: climate, integrity and women.

But the Liberal MP, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were told internal polling showed Joyce had "even lower" popularity in their electorate than Morrison, who himself registered double-digit negative net approval.