Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack said Barnaby Joyce is “not going to join One Nation anytime soon” and that he has a responsibility to see out the rest of this term of parliament as a Nationals MP.

“Barnaby is a member of the Nationals. He’s been elected as a member of the Nationals, and he owes it to the National Party people, and indeed his electorate, to continue serving with the Nationals until such time as he’s ending his this term of parliament,” McCormack told Nine’s Today this morning.

“I think that’s what you need to do when people are prepared to hand out for you, and they’re prepared to don your yellow t-shirt with ‘I’m backing Barnaby’ on the back. I mean, he needs to continue to serve and sit with the Nationals,” McCormack said.

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Joyce told this masthead yesterday that he would consider his political future over the summer, but would not return to the Nationals party room, or join One Nation this year.

The New England MP did not attend the Nationals party room meeting held yesterday at Parliament House in Canberra.“I’ve always believed that life is determined by those who turn up, and it was a shame he didn’t turn up to the party room meeting yesterday,” McCormack said this morning.

“He should have been there. I mean, ultimately, he should have been there, but he wasn’t”.

This masthead revealed nearly two weeks ago that Joyce was in advanced talks with Senator Pauline Hanson about defecting to One Nation.

Such a move would have significant ramifications for the Nationals, who would lose one of their best retail politicians, a two-time former leader and powerhouse fundraiser.

Joyce has suggested that this current term of parliament will be his last representing the seat of New England, but has left the door open to a return to the Senate.