– With AAP. 

Who says Malcolm Turnbull’s not still bitter over his ousting in September?

It would seem that the former Prime Minister still has a slight grudge against his old Liberal party colleague, Tony Abbott, after he was caught following an Instagram account called “Vote Tony Out”.

The page, which shares stories from “Warringah and its citizens” on “why we don’t like Tony Abbott, one story at a time”, is dedicated to de-seating Abbott from the seat of Warringah in the next federal election.

Turnbull, his wife Lucy and his son Alex all started following the Instagram account earlier this week.

However, Turnbull has hit back after being criticised for following the social media account.

On Twitter, he wrote: "It's pretty obvious really but following someone on Instagram or Twitter does not imply support approval or endorsement - simply that you are for whatever reason currently interested in seeing the followed person's posts in your feed."

"And another equally obvious point. The more you try to bully people into NOT reading something the more they will do so. Freedom matters."

And another equally obvious point. The more you try to bully people into NOT reading something the more they will do so. Freedom matters. 2/2

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) November 21, 2018

Interestingly, Abbott has decided - at least publicly - to interpret his former rival's actions generously.

"Maybe he's just keeping an eye on them so he can help me more effectively," Abbott told 2GB radio on Wednesday.

"There are lots of people who follow sites not because they particularly support the site but because they want to know what the bad guys are up to. That's the interpretation I'd like to put on it."

"Malcolm gave me plenty of support in Warringah last time, and if he's going to get involved at all that's what I'd be hoping for this time," he said.

Not all people in the Liberal Party are willing to give Turnbull the benefit of the doubt, however. A small Liberal Party branch in Sydney passed a motion calling on Turnbull to be expelled by the NSW division - although it is unlikely this action will be taken.

Some Liberals were angry at Turnbull's lack of support during the Wentworth by-election, which he triggered when he resigned from the seat after being dumped as prime minister.