Lib MP calls on party to boot Abbott

Julie Bishop may be behind her leader but one of Tony Abbott's team has become the first to openly call for the prime minister's head.

West Australian backbencher Dennis Jensen has called for the Liberal Party to move to oust Mr Abbott.

"I believe that it is necessary that this is brought to a head and lanced," he told the ABC on Tuesday.

But he didn't want to be seen as the person "pulling the trigger".

Dr Jensen was involved in calling the first of the Liberal spills in 2009 that ultimately saw Mr Abbott installed as the party's leader.

Now, Mr Abbott is under pressure to improve his performance.

His deputy, Ms Bishop, has ruled out directly challenging for the leadership.