Latham resigns (1 Viewer)

[Rafy]

EDIT:

SUMMARY OF DAYS EVENTS

- Latham resigns from politics citing health reasons
- Rudd said he will consider his position over the coming days
- Beazley has said he will run.



Opposition Leader Mark Latham quit today as Labor leader, blaming his health.

Earlier, former Labor leader Kim Beazley said he would make a statement if Mr Latham went.

Mr Beazley's office said any statement would depend on what Mr Latham did.

Mr Beazley has been touted as a replacement by NSW Premier Bob Carr and Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, following concerns over Mr Latham's future.

Mr Carr said he expected Mr Latham to quit today following his second bout of pancreatitis.

Mr Beazley would not comment on the speculation this morning.

"There's nothing to discuss," Mr Beazley told ABC radio.

Asked if he might have something to say later today, he said: "I'm not sure about that, but if there is I'll let you know. No wor
ries, you won't be left out in the dark."

 

[townie]

has he made a statement, or did they just not quote it in the article?

 

[Rafy]

He made a statement.....about 10 minutes ago, still waiting for the transcript to come through


www.smh.com.au

 

[absolution*]

woohooo. Rudd > Beazley though.

 

[townie]

i dunno absolution*, i think labor needs to consolidate, and even tho beazley had his chance, he is familiar to the voters...and as people point out, it's almost identical to howards comeback (even down to the dates)

 

[absolution*]

in 3 years time, before the next election any leader will be familiar with the voting public. consolidate what? they got completely screwed over in the last election. they need change.

 

[Rafy]

He has resigned from politics all together.


in other news Michael Egan has also quit (NSW treasuer)

 

[absolution*]

Rudd or Beazley. Beazley would make a great PM. My fantacy woul dbe Beazley as PM. But I don't know if it will happen.

The problem being hes fat and no one likes him.

 

[Rafy]

UPDATED ARTICLE



Opposition Leader Mark Latham quit today as Labor leader, blaming his health.

Mr Latham, speaking at a doorstop in sydney, also announced he would quit politics.

``A number of colleagues have asked me to address the uncertainty concerning the Labor leadership,'' Mr Latham told journalists.


``While I had planned to reassess things at the end of my leave period on the 26th of January, the ongoing speculation is damaging the party and needs to be dealt with now.

''(My family's) conclusion is that I should look after my health and pursue a normal life outside of politics.

``Therefore I've decided to resign both as Labor leader and Member for Werriwa.''

Mr Latham had been under growing pressure to end speculation over the leadership, sparked by last week's announcement he was suffering from a second bout of pancreatitis.

Former Labor leader Kim Beazley's office said he would make a statement in an hour.

 

[absolution*]

Rudd has 5% national support. Beazley has 25%.

Beazley SHOULD have been PM in 1998. Except for boat people and Howard getting the rednecks out.

Where are you getting these figures?

 

[Generator]

1. Dissassociate with the Greens

2. More saveage less polite advertising.

3. EDUCATION AND HEALTH emphasis.

4. Less anti american Rehtoric.

Move with the times, in other words. Quite sad, I think, no matter how 'practical' those suggestions seem to be.

 

[Rafy]

The Kim Beazely News conference will be live on News Radio (AM 630) within the hour

 

[absolution*]

Beazley will definately go for it. He's busting to be back in leadership after his stint away from the front bench.

 

[Rafy]

Yes i think he will.... he came close to regaining the leadership last year when Latham won the leadership....and when he was leader he did win the popular vote in the 1998 election.

 

[Generator]

Yes, let the party go back to the past once again... Latham was more than correct in saying that he did his best to 'lead a genuinely progressive Australian Labor party'.

 

[Timmay]

whoever gets labor leadership is irrelevant because either johnny will retire and labor will win because costello is public enemy No.1 or johnny will stay and labor will get steamrolled again...

beazely or rudd are equally as qualified in my opinion (i would love to see bob mcmulan take a more central role but meh...) and it doesnt really matter which of them take the reins, its just sad that latham is unhealthy because he had definate potential

 

[Generator]

Australia isnt ready for progress. Progress is only needed in shit times. Many Australian's feel that living is pretty good. 3/5 people bought new cars last year (mostly on credit) and retail is strong. Consumer material stuff makes people happy.

People have money. They are happy progress not needed. Nuff said.

The ALP will be nothing more than meaningless if it seeks power just for the sake of power rather than as a credible yet progressive alternative. Practical or not, that isn't the issue... We need a Labor party that is willing to take on the government and shift popular perceptions so that the public recognises the need for progress. It's sad that that may only happen after the ALP gains power through adopting a more 'Liberal' line of thought...

 

[Kierkegaard]

The most important state is QLD. That's why Rudd is being considered.

Rudd and Beazley have W.A. and Queensland covered, which is an integral step in winning the next federal election. I think Rudd is a little too articulate for some voters. I would prefer him as leader, but I doubt that he'd win an election.

As for economic prosperity--that wont last long. The Kondrateiff Winter is nigh. Once inflation takes hold, interest rates rise and rental prices drop, the economy will not merely take a dive; it will collapse. Despite Howard's short-term fiscal success, he has created an economy that will live up to the long-run expectations of Keynesianism. In the end, we're all dead. When the economy turns, Labor will get in no matter who's the leader.

 

[Cyan_phoeniX]

didnt beazley quit? If so, why is he back? Was his quitting just a stunt so that he would be more popular when he did get back? Is it just me, or is he more popular after he went, sort of like some pitty thing.

I just can't see why he should return if he quit, if that is what he did..or maybe he didnt quit. someone tell me what exactly happened...

 

[absolution*]

didnt beazley quit? If so, why is he back? Was his quitting just a stunt so that he would be more popular when he did get back?

With 25% of the population behind him, he is hardly prom queen.