Oh My

Downer, Turnbull want PM to go.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull want Prime Minister John Howard to quit the leadership of the Liberal party, Sky News says.

Sky says both senior ministers have spoken to Mr Howard, but did not tell him to go.

"But not telling him to go, saying their view is that it would be better for the government if he did go," Sky said.

Sky said neither Mr Downer nor Mr Turnbull would confirm that they had called on the prime minister to stand aside.

Other cabinet sources said more and more ministers believed it would be better if Mr Howard left, Sky said.