LNP bosses considered MP Bruce Flegg for Brisbane Lord Mayor and Campbell Newman for Moggill MP Bruce Flegg is heard saying on tape the "shallow pool" of LNP talent is not confined to council. HEAVYWEIGHTS within the Liberal Nationals considered a direct job swap between Campbell Newman and Bruce Flegg that would have seen the Moggill MP wearing the robes of Brisbane's Lord Mayor. Covert recordings conducted by Dr Flegg reveal the Machiavellian plot was considered because there were concerns over the "shallow pool" of talent among the current crop of councillors, which included current lord mayor Graham Quirk. The revelation further exposes the desperate lengths the LNP was prepared to take to pitchfork Mr Newman into State Parliament and oust then leader John-Paul Langbroek in early 2011. FLEGG TAPES: LNP feared Nicholls would derail Newman bid The Moggill-for-Lord-Mayor swap is revealed on a recording heard by The Courier-Mail of a meeting between Dr Flegg, LNP president Bruce McIver and respected party elder Bob Tucker. The meeting of the trio on March 18, 2011, is believed to be at a Spring Hill unit complex. Dr Flegg can be heard asking for keys to an apartment from the manager so they can meet in private. FLEGG TAPES: Claims MP was offered plum trade post Mr McIver pushes Dr Flegg to make a decision on the proposal for him to make way for Mr Newman in his leafy blue-ribbon electorate in Brisbane's western suburbs. Mr Tucker responds by asking who should take over from Mr Newman as Lord Mayor. "So the party couldn't say to Flegg, "Look, you go and become the mayor"?"" he asks. Mr McIver suggests the LNP could preselect Dr Flegg as its mayoral candidate for the next election but the rules prohibited them from directly installing him. FLEGG TAPES: Ex-lover is set to talk He also indicates another LNP heavyweight was concerned about the options for City Hall. "He's worried about the talent there,"" he said. Mr Tucker responds, "Yeah, it's a pretty shallow pool" before Dr Flegg says, "It's shallow all round, I can tell you. It's not just the council. The plan was eventually shelved after Dr Flegg declined to move from Moggill, saying he does not "trust" Mr Newman to honour any deal. The mobile phone containing the recordings, which was also lent to accused killer Gerard Baden-Clay, has now been given to the Crime and Misconduct Commission. The watchdog previously investigated claims Dr Flegg was offered a plum trade post in exchange for quitting Moggill but found no evidence. Mr Newman, who was not involved in any of the discussions, has insisted the CMC would look at the issue if there was any new evidence. Dr Flegg has said the matter was previously resolved but promised to co-operate with any new investigation.