PRIME Minister Tony ­Abbott’s personal texts to gay marriage campaigner Warren Entsch have been leaked in a dramatic escalation of the civil war over gay marriage.

Warring Liberal MPs have hit back at claims the Prime Minister ambushed his cabinet over same sex marriage, ­revealing he detailed his plebiscite plans to frontbencher Chris Pyne at a private dinner in Adelaide.

The escalation has sparked renewed speculation in Liberal ranks that rising star Scott Morrison could emerge as a leadership alternative to Malcolm Turnbull.

But claims the Prime Minister didn’t know Liberal MP Warren Entsch planned to raise it in the party room last Tuesday have been demolished in private texts revealed for the first time.

Tony Abbott's sister says the Coalition gay marriage vote was 'not the right result' Tony Abbott's sister Christine Forster says the Coalition have made the wrong decision after rejecting a vote on same sex marriage. Courtesy: Lateline/ABC

They show Mr Entsch informed Mr Abbott of his plans on Tuesday morning by text.

Mr Abbott replied that while it was his preference not to debate the same sex issue, that “today’s as good a day as any, mate’’.

“All I am going to say is there was nothing I did he didn’t know about,’’ Mr Entsch said.

The text messages between the Prime Minister and Mr Entsch have infuriated cabinet because MPs were told at the meeting that Mr Abbott didn’t know it was coming up.

media_camera Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Education Minister Chris Pyne and chief of staff Peta Credlin dine at Chianti restaurant in Adelaide on August 4. Mr Abbott told Mr Pyne at the dinner that if the same sex marriage came up he would include the Nationals in the party room. Picture: Supplied

media_camera Liberal MP Warren Entsch told the PM of his plan to discuss same sex marriage. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

media_camera People have been rallying around the country in support of same sex marriage. Picture: Brendan Francis

Liberal frontbenchers have also complained that Senate leader Eric Abetz has been bragging that he tricked the Liberal moderates.

“And he did. Except Warren Entsch has the texts from the PM that prove he knew,’’ a ­Liberal MP said.

The Prime Minister had held private discussions with senior frontbenchers about his idea of a plebiscite or a referendum on gay marriage for weeks before last week’s blow- up in the party room.

During these, Mr Abbott ­indicated it was the best method to avoid a divisive party room debate on Mr Entsch’s bill to enshrine gay marriage.

Mr Abbott held talks with Mr Pyne, Joe Hockey, Julie Bishop, Malcolm Turnbull and Liberal Party director Brian Loughnane.

Ministers have described the outcome as a “clusterf***’.

Mr Abbott also warned Mr Pyne at a private dinner in Adelaide on August 4 that his preference was for a plebiscite.

Originally published as PM knew of party room plot