It was Tony Abbott's own backers who singled out the British tradition of former leaders who remained in Parliament when mounting a case for him to stay in politics.
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But on the eve of the first anniversary of Mr Abbott's overthrow, it was the departing David Cameron who put a long skewer through the argument when he lamented that it was not possible for an ex-British PM to become a backbencher and "retain their reputation".
"Everything you do will become a big distraction and a big diversion from what the government needs to do for our country," Mr Cameron said.
Fairfax Media has spoken to a number of elected colleagues of Mr Abbott and senior Liberal Party figures and found bafflement, some anger and some support for his decision to remain on the national political stage.
Tellingly, as Mr Abbott's backers in the media continue to hold him up as a genuine leadership alternative to a faltering and flat-footed Malcolm Turnbull, Liberal MPs say the supposed "Right flank" around him has already all-but moved on.
A member of Mr Abbott's own conservative faction estimates he would command no more than 10 votes in the partyroom today, despite the public disappointment that has been the Turnbull ascendancy.
"You could put the Right flank in a telephone box virtually," said a conservative source.
Another senior Liberal said: "Ten would be overstating things. The established Right has moved on."
Those in the established Right include conservatives and former Abbott backers who were brought into the Turnbull cabinet like Mathias Cormann, Josh Frydenberg, Christian Porter and Peter Dutton.
They also include rising conservative figures Angus Taylor, Michael Sukkar and Zed Seselja.
The grouping that remains around Mr Abbott - which one Liberal describes as the "used-by faction" - includes conservative warriors Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews.
Of the 19 elected Liberals in NSW, just Craig Kelly would be expected to back Mr Abbott.
Mr Abbott declined a request to speak to Fairfax Media about his 12 months in office since vacating the nation's top office with a promise of "no wrecking, no undermining and no sniping".
But Senator Abetz argued strongly on his behalf, claiming Mr Abbott's contribution was "positive and ongoing".
"Have a look at the way he campaigned for the re-election of the Coalition, which was in stark contrast to the way Kevin Rudd went about things," he said.
Mr Abbott's intention to become a priest and long involvement in volunteer lifesaving and the Rural Fire Service meant there was nothing unusual in him wanting to "continue his life of service", said Senator Abetz.
"It might be considered a distraction at times but I don't think so," he said.
On Tuesday, Trade Minister Steve Ciobo insisted Mr Abbott brought the "weight and gravitas" of a former PM, making his a useful contribution to the Coalition.
But figures on both sides of the factional divide are wondering openly what it is that Mr Abbott wants to achieve in his desired role as backbench statesman, whose favourite phrase to media questioners has become: "It's not about me".
A senior party figure told Fairfax Media, Mr Abbott is driven by "vindication and vengeance".
In recent months he has become the flag-bearer for democratic party reform, appeared to suggest the partyroom would shape the same-sex marriage plebiscite process rather than cabinet, visited remote indigenous communities in Western Australia and criticised Mr Turnbull's snap decision to announce a Royal Commission into juvenile detention.
A bizarre kiss-and-make-up with Pauline Hanson stirred more suspicion that Mr Abbott had his sights on becoming more than just an energetic MP.
Mr Abbott's stated explanation for wanting to recontest his seat of Warringah does not appear to fit with what veteran News Ltd journalist Paul Kelly described as his role as "banner-carrier for the conservative wing of the Liberal Party" at home and abroad.
In announcing he intended to recontest, Mr Abbott raised one key aim in "working with Premier Mike Baird to ensure that the Warringah Peninsula gets better transport links to the rest of Sydney".
He has issued media releases on a broad range of issues, including national security, Brexit and a review of Bill Shorten's book For The Common Good, but has not commented on local transport, until releasing a statement on Tuesday.
"The Northern Beaches badly needs better infrastructure and public transport and the best way to get this is by having a NSW and federal government working together," he said.
"The $17 million recently announced in the NSW budget for planning and feasibility for the Middle Harbour tunnel is in part the result of intensive discussions between the Premier and myself."
