Christopher Pyne has privately lobbied a broadcaster to help stop independent senator Nick Xenophon from running a candidate in his seat.

In a series of text messages obtained by the Australian newspaper, the industry minister urged Adelaide radio host Leon Byner, who presents on FIVEaa, to “help” him by convincing Xenophon not to run a candidate in the seat of Sturt.

The paper quotes Pyne as writing: “He shouldn’t run a candidate against me. He will put [Xenophon’s candidate] Stirling Griff winning at risk because both labor and liberal will HAVE TO drive his vote down. Please help him and help me by convincing him to leave me alone. I like Nick and I don’t want to be at odds with him.”

Pyne told the paper there was nothing improper about the texts, arguing it “makes sense and is to the benefit of South Australia that Nick Xenophon and I are not at loggerheads”.

Cabinet colleague Simon Birmingham told Sky News on Monday Pyne left “no stone unturned in relation to any political battle he is in”.

The “awful” aspect of Xenophon’s team was that it was built around himself, but asked people to vote for other candidates.

Personality parties often “fall apart at the seams once a bit of pressure is applied”, Birmingham said.