The Nationals’ leader in the Senate, Bridget McKenzie, yesterday backed Lidia Thorpe’s raising of misconduct claims against Senator David Van, saying Thorpe was “absolutely within her right” to speak up. Thorpe’s disclosure prompted former Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker to air her own claims against Van, and reports say an unnamed third accuser also came forward. Van denies the accusations and will take leave from Parliament this week, although a report says he won’t quit Parliament altogether. After being dumped from the Liberal party room last Thursday, Van resigned from the Liberals on Saturday. He said the party had shown “wholesale disregard for due process and natural justice in relation to allegations made”, leaving him “deeply distressed and hurt”. The fallout has added to the Liberals’ recent troubles, but Dutton told a weekend meeting of senior party officials that “parties will be down but they’re never out”.