Washington: Malcolm Turnbull has refused to endorse Barnaby Joyce as his Deputy Prime Minister ahead of a crisis meeting on the Nationals leadership within days, taking a neutral stance amid fears the turmoil will wreck the government.

The Prime Minister stepped back from the widening scandal over Mr Joyce’s personal life to insist it was up to the Nationals to decide their leadership and that no Liberal should seek to influence the outcome.

“The leadership of the National Party is a matter for the National Party,” Mr Turnbull told reporters in Washington, D.C. where he is meeting with US President Donald Trump and speaking at a conference for governors.

Nationals backbencher Andrew Broad has called on Mr Joyce to step aside in the wake of revelations of his relationship with Vikki Campion, his former media adviser, and the expected birth of their baby boy in April.