Former prime minister Tony Abbott has offered his old political rival Malcolm Turnbull the benefit of the doubt over a controversial Instagram follow that plunged the Liberal Party into turmoil this week.

Speaking with 2GB's Ben Fordham on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Abbott suggested Mr Turnbull – along with his wife Lucy and son Alex – may have followed the 'Vote Tony Out' Instagram account for reasons other than supporting the campaign to vote him out of the seat of Warringah, which Mr Abbott has held since 1994.

Malcolm Turnbull follows the account, along with wife Lucy and son Alex. Credit:Instagram

"Maybe he’s just keeping an eye on them so he can help me more effectively," Mr Abbott mused.

"There are lots of people who follow sites not because they particularly support the site but because they want to know what the bad guys are up to. That’s the interpretation I’d like to put on it."