Crook back in the fold

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott’s parliamentary numbers have won a boost, with Nationals MP Tony Crook formally joining the coalition. The West Australian MP, who has been on the crossbenches, will sit with his party’s colleagues in parliament from Tuesday, The Nationals say. The move by Mr Crook, who has voted with Labor more than 30 times in the lower house since the last election, puts the coalition’s numbers at 72 members to Labor’s 71. While Prime Minister Julia Gillard still controls the house through her deals with the independents and Greens, Tony Abbott now has bragging rights for which major party has more members, and more discipline over Mr Crook’s vote. Throws a different light on next week budget session – just that little bit closer to a LNP government.