Malcolm Turnbull's cabinet was prepared for a conservative backlash to his speech about the Liberal Party's ideological direction, coordinating an early morning media blitz to defend the Prime Minister's "sensible centre".

But the firestorm never came.

While former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett went ballistic - accusing Mr Turnbull of an "appalling lack of political judgement" for delivering a speech that threatened to stir internal tensions while travelling overseas - he was a lonely voice.

In his London speech Mr Turnbull said the Liberal Party was not a "conservative party", arguing founder Robert Menzies had "firmly anchored" it in the centre. In what was widely seen as a swipe at his right-wing internal dissenters, the Prime Minister said ideology was a "very poor guide to policy" and the party's focus should be on results.