Between a final sitting week episode of appendicitis and an expose of One Nation’s plan to tap the National Rifle Association for cash, April has not been Pauline Hanson’s month.

Now we hear there’s a revolt among the faithful, with two Senate candidates on the One Nation ticket abandoning ship for iron ore magnate Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party last month.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Clive Palmer's United Australia Party appear to be vying for candidates ahead of the federal election. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit:

Lawyer James Unkles is in the box seat to run for Palmer against Liberal MP Tony Smith, while Peter Cozyn is running in Ballarat — after being told by One Nation on February 12 that he was “successful” in his bid to be one of their candidates.

That leaves just one man on One Nation’s Victorian Senate ticket.