NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant to step down as leader of The Nationals

NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant has announced he will step down as leader of The Nationals, as the party stares down a shock defeat in the Orange by-election. 

"As a result of The Nationals candidate for Orange Scott Barrett facing an uphill battle to hold the seat, I have informed the NSW Nationals leadership team that at tomorrow’s Party Room meeting I will be standing down as Leader of the NSW Nationals," Mr Grant said in a statement today. 

"It has been an incredible privilege to serve in that role and lead a team whose sole focus is to serve the people of regional NSW."

Deputy Leader Adrian Piccoli has told the ABC he too will resign at tomorrow's party room meeting.

The Nationals appear set to lose the seat of Orange after a whopping 36 percent swing against the party in Saturday's by-election. 

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate Philip Donato is on track to claim the once-safe Nationals seat.

Nationals candidate Scott Barrett holds about 30 percent of first preference votes with more than half of ballots counted, with around 25 percent going to Mr Donato.

The Nationals had held Orange by a 21.7 percent margin, but the result of the weekend's by-election is still in the balance and will likely boil down to preferences.

Nationals MP Andrew Fraser had planned to move a leadership spill motion against Mr Grant at tomorrow's party room meeting.

The huge swing against the Nationals came after voter anger over council mergers and the state government's now-collapsed greyhound racing ban.

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