Abbott, Brandis exchange political barbs

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has taken umbrage with a description of his government as the only time the Liberal Party pursued "ideologically right-wing" policies.

Former attorney-general George Brandis, who has taken up the plum posting as Australia's High Commissioner in London, made the remarks in an interview with Fairfax on Monday.

"George Brandis has begun his ambassadorship with a partisan attack that rewrites history," Mr Abbott tweeted on Tuesday.

"How could the Liberal Party under my leadership have been 'ideologically right-wing' when I had him as part of the leadership group?"

In the interview on Monday, Mr Brandis said: "Abbott's leadership was probably the only time that the Liberal Party in government pursued a set of policies so ideologically right-wing".

"Attempts to make it a more right-wing party have never ended well," he added.