It was Tony Abbott's own backers who singled out the British tradition of former leaders who remained in Parliament when mounting a case for him to stay in politics.

But on the eve of the first anniversary of Mr Abbott's overthrow, it was the departing David Cameron who put a long skewer through the argument when he lamented that it was not possible for an ex-British PM to become a backbencher and "retain their reputation".

"Everything you do will become a big distraction and a big diversion from what the government needs to do for our country," Mr Cameron said.

Fairfax Media has spoken to a number of elected colleagues of Mr Abbott and senior Liberal Party figures and found bafflement, some anger and some support for his decision to remain on the national political stage.