Joyce not after Truss's job: Nats MP A NATIONALS MP has dismissed suggestions his high-profile colleague Barnaby Joyce is trying to wrest the leadership of the party from federal leader Warren Truss. Senator Joyce confirmed his interest in standing for the NSW seat of New England in the September election after the shock withdrawal of preselected state MP Richard Torbay. The announcement has fuelled speculation that once in the lower house Senator Joyce would be in pole-position to become deputy prime minister in a coalition government. The Queensland senator already has poured cold water on the speculation, saying Mr Truss is the "safest set of hands in Canberra." Victorian Nationals MP Darren Chester told reporters in Canberra on Thursday that it was "irresponsible" to suggest Senator Joyce's lower house ambitions meant he wanted a tilt at the Nationals leadership. "It's simply not going to happen," he said. If there was a leadership spill in the National Party tomorrow ... I don't think Barnaby Joyce would even vote for himself. Mr Truss had the complete support of the party and was a man of "enormous integrity," Mr Chester said.