Prime Minister Tony Abbott has "undermined what was meant to be a week of healing" with his surprise sacking of chief whip Philip Ruddock, according to one of his backbench critics, while other MPs say the Prime Minister was justified in appointing a new whip who will be vigilant in warding off future spills.
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"This was meant to be a week of healing and this has dashed those hopes," Queensland MP Andrew Laming said of Mr Ruddock's sacking.
Laming called the move "scapegoating" and said that while Mr Ruddock and his successor, LNP MP Scott Buchholz, were two of the most highly regarded members of the party room, "the timing of this move reeks of recrimination."
On Saturday several Liberal backbenchers said they were still scratching their heads over the decision, which also involved the promotion of Tasmanian MP Andrew Nikolic to a whip position, but many agreed that Mr Ruddock was "not a natural" at being a whip. It was his replacements that were "raising eyebrows", they said.
One MP said Mr Abbott's decision to dump Mr Ruddock on Friday night showed how out of touch the Prime Minister was with the party room, questioning why Mr Ruddock had to go and not Treasurer Joe Hockey, Defence Minister Kevin Andrews or chief of staff Peta Credlin, all of whom were all heavily criticised during the week for their poor performances.
Another MP disagreed, and said he was not wholly surprised by the decision after Mr Ruddock had failed to "whip" the votes for Mr Abbott for the spill motion on Monday.
"I don't know anyone who got a phone call from the whips," the MP said. "We were waiting for them to call us."
"Tony was let down badly."
Another government MP said Mr Ruddock's loyalty was not the issue, but how energetic he was in protecting the Prime Minister's position.
But a disgruntled NSW backbencher said that "this is the most ugly thing that could have been done."
Speaking in Manly in Sydney on Saturday, Mr Abbott said he had chosen to renew the whips' team as part of stronger engagement with his back bench.
"Obviously I have nothing but the deepest respect for Philip Ruddock who has been a mighty servant of our country and of our parliament. I am looking forward to Philip continuing to serve the parliament and the government in the days and weeks and months ahead, " he said.
Asked if it was an act of retribution Mr Abbott answered: "No, not at all. Philip Ruddock is a friend, Philip Ruddock is a colleague and Philip Ruddock is a supporter."
Labor weighed into the debate echoing criticism Mr Abbott had used Mr Ruddock as a scapegoat.
"Earlier in the week we were told that we were now ushering in good government ... by the end of the week the 'Father of the House' gets the sack and I imagine next week the tea lady gets ankle tapped," said Labor MP Ed Husic on Sky News.
