Barnaby Joyce joins One Nation: Pauline Hanson woos former National Party MP to the orange side

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has announced his long-awaited defection to One Nation, confirming he will represent the minor party in Parliament, before running on their New South Wales Senate ticket at the next election.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson travelled to Tamworth in the heart of his New England electorate to join her new party recruit as they formally announced a move that was anticipated for weeks.

“It’s something, as I’ve really considered over a long period of time. Pauline made an offer to me to come to One Nation, and I have taken that up,” Mr Joyce said on 88.9 Tamworth radio.

“But now I’m really going to focus back on the Australian people,” the former Deputy Prime Minister added.

Seated alongside the New England MP, Pauline Hanson said she saw “a person like herself” in Barnaby Joyce, as he announced he was going to join One Nation.

“I’m a bit emotional about it, and I’ll tell you why I have a lot of respect for Barnaby. I saw in Barnaby, a person like myself, who wanted to speak up, and I’ve seen that over the years.”

Ahead of the announcement, a new Resolve survey found more people would be increasingly likely to vote for One Nation if Mr Joyce defected to the party, 29 per cent, than those who say they are less likely, 19 per cent.

More to come...