Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s twitter account ‘liked’ a post that backed a “strong independent win” in Wentworth on Thursday - before quickly deleting it.

The original tweet was from a man who claimed to be “handing out policy info and how-to-vote cards for Kerry Phelps”, who has emerged as the biggest electoral threat to the Liberals in the Saturday poll.

Twitter

Mr Turnbull has not campaigned for his would-be successor Mr Sharma, despite strongly backing his pre-selection.

READ MORE Former Liberal leader urges Wentworth voters to dump Coalition over climate inaction

Former PM John Howard hit the campaign trail on Thursday.

Various cabinet ministers have insisted Mr Turnbull backs Mr Sharma in the by-election and does not agree with his son, Alex Turnbull, who has been vocal in urging an anti-Liberal protest vote since his father was ousted from the leadership.

AAP

“Malcolm wants Dave Sharma to win Wentworth because he will be a future cabinet minister in Government,” Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said.