Relief swept over the Victorian Liberal Party as Scott Morrison beat Peter Dutton in the federal leadership ballot, with state MPs saying that a Dutton prime ministership would have hurt their chances at the November election.

State Liberal MPs were also buoyed by federal energy and environment minister Josh Frydenberg’s election as Liberal deputy, the first Victorian to take such a senior role since Howard government treasurer Peter Costello.

Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg emerge from the party room on Friday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

A Dutton prime ministership could have been awkward for Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, who this week expressed his support for Malcolm Turnbull and said he expected him to join the Coalition’s November election campaign.

Mr Guy issued a statement on Friday welcoming the election of “honorary Victorian” Scott Morrison and “passionate advocate for Victoria” Josh Frydenberg.