Latham resigns
Despite his office saying he would not quit, Mark Latham announced his resignation as the Leader of the Labor Party and as a Member of Parliament moments ago.
He said his pancreatitis was incompatible with the demands of a parliamentary career, and that he discussed the matter with his family before making a decision:
Our conclusion is that I should look after my health and pursue a normal life outside of politics. Therefore, I have decided to resign both as Labor leader and Member for Werriwa.
Kim Beazley will hold a press conference in an hour.
Update: Kevin Rudd will hold a press conference in Indonesia in about half an hour.
Update: My prediction? Rudd will announce that he does not intend to run, clearing the way for an acceptance-style speech from Beazley, the “unity” candidate. We’ll know if I’m right very soon.
Update: It’s contageous! NSW Treasurer Michael Egan also resigned.
Update: Dick(head) Adams is on the radio. Since when does threatening to rat give you a valuable opinion on party matters?
Update: Crossing now to the Krudd conference… Sounds like I was wrong. He said he’d be consulting with colleagues in the days ahead, won’t rule out running. Said he’s concentrating on expressing bipartisan support for the aid program in Indonesia.
Now Beazley… Thought these circumstances would not arise, and did not intend to run again for leadership, but has been encouraged to run by people who did not vote for him in the last ballot. “It’s not really surprising.” He can bring unity with energy and commitment. Absolutely fired with ambition for the Australian people and the ALP.
Says he has changed his approach — this is a Government that has to be rigorously held to account. (Sounds like a leader already!) It is in the public interest that we provide an effective opposition and an alternative government. Forget “two-term” strategies. We can win the next election.
Now he’s talking about Australia’s response to the tsunami (compulsory, I suppose, given Latham’s silence sparked the media mess). Australians must be united in our response. But one act of statesmanship is not all there is. Our disagreement with the Government is strong and profound. We believe in providing opportunity, security, etc.
We need to stop scratching at each other and start holding the Government to account.
We cannot permit another defeat for the ALP. It simply isn’t good for the Australian people to have a one-party system of Government. He is prepared to do everything possible to achieve success at the next election.
(I can hear the Channel 7 prat asking questions. Most annoying voice.)
The Senate is gone. Our performance in the House of Representatives is going to be absolutely critical. The Australian people expect that the public interest will be protected in the parliament, and will be held up to the Government day in, day out.
Good Luck with your health and your new private life Mark, and thanks for making politics exciting again.
Latham resigns
ABC has it here.
I have to admit, I never wanted Latham as leader. I severely dislike Kim Beazley, but even up to the very last leadership battle between the pair, when Latham was ultimately elected, I would have still preferred a Beazley Labor Gove…
GUTTED!
Still, Beaze sounds like he has fire in his ample belly. If he promises to kick serious booty and not become a mediocre Lib, I will try and heart him as I did Marky in the early days. Which means loads, obviously (every federal party leader seeks my endorsement, btw. Cough)
Who do you back Rob? Obviously The Beazer will play well in WA, but a two-time loser tag will haunt him. (wait for the News Ltd hacks to mention that tomorrow morning!)
I’d prefer a Rudd/Gillard ticket….
Kevin Rudd would likely prove an excellent leader, but I think Beazley is the candidate most likely at this stage. Tenth time the charm, eh?
It’s utterly amazing how quickly political fortunes can change. One week, leader of the major opposition party in Australia (even if embattled). The next week, back in the burbs with the wife and kids.
Was the Latham candidacy all a big mistake to begin with? Perhaps, but the man proved quite effective at times, even if his inexperience and temperament failed him at others.
I am greatly heartened by the recent speech by Beazley. Why the change of heart I wonder – is it a matter of what will play well in the polls, or has he had a mid-life crisis?!!
Anyway, I agree with Rob, he sounds like a leader already, which is certainly promising. Perhaps we won’t need a two-term strategy after all, though we’ve lost a lot of ground.
What history will make of Latham’s 412 days in charge probably won’t be fully known for a while. However, it is always said to see a young man cut down in his prime by illness.
The Bling Is Dead…
Robert Corr predicts that Kevin Rudd – presently in Indonesia – will announce his intention not to stand, leaving the way open for Beazley’s bloodless return. Interesting.
Sympathise with Blair’s comments above. While partisan politics allows a great deal of glee in careers ended by corruption, petard hoisting, or stupidity, this is no way to end a career hard fought for.
Now as for Beazley, I almost dozed off and crashed my car while listening to him. Rudd did it more succinctly and in a classier way.
I agree with Kim in saying that “[m]ore than ever, the Australian people will need a vigorous and effective Opposition holding this Government accountable.” But can he provide that opposition?
I fully support Beazley, I was slightly dissapointed when Latham beat him after Crean resigned, but then I liked Latham a lot too.
Meh, will post on this shortly.
For the carnival is over, we may never meet again.
As a number of commenters have already advised Troppo readers, Mark Latham has resigned as Labor Leader and as Member for Werriwa. At some point I might do a retrospective on Latho’s time in office, but at this stage I…
Rob, I agree with your initial assessment that Rudd probably won’t run – allowing Beazley to be elected unanimously. Since his colleagues with whom he’ll be consulting are likely to be the same colleagues that support the Beazer, I predict he won’t contest. Beattie’s endorsement of Beazley last night shows that Rudd’s own faction – Labor Unity – agrees with the Queensland AWU on this. A unanimous election would also mean that there is unlikely to be a vacancy in the Deputy’s chair. It all depends though on what the Creanites and Latho supporters do. It would make sense for everyone to support Beazer – he’s clearly an interim leader, no matter what noises he’s now making, and it leaves the growing field time to build a profile and position themselves for a later run. I’m in the library at the moment so haven’t heard Beazley’s speech but I’d be a bit cautious about getting too excited about him at this point. I’ll never forgive him his stance on refugees/Tampa, though I hope he makes a better fist of the leadership than the last time and I think personally he’s a likeable character.
Mark:
Hear, hear. I’m not excited about him yet — I’ll wait and see whether he follows through with his promise to aggressively oppose the Government.
Wasn’t specifically directed at you, Rob – more an impression from the thread generally. Agressive opposition is certainly needed!
He’s out!
Latho’s out. Ideally it’ll be dealt with quickly and quietly. Realistically, I suspect they’ll just keep on sucking and the people of Australia will continue not voting for them….
But have you seen the real reason Latham’s quitting politics?
http://www.dailyripper.com/archives/2005/01/16/latham-to-lead-midnight-oil/“>http://www.dailyripper.com/archi … night-oil/
End of Latham- Blog roundup and commentary
Blogs call it for Beazley, but i’m not so sure.
Bittersweet for ALP supporters and the broader left generally. I’ve written a bit of an obituary here.
And He’s Spent…
Goodbye, Marky-poo. I remember when you first knocked The Beaze out of the ring to take control of Australia’s favourite dysfunctional posse, the Australian Labor Party. There was excitement in the air – finally, after years of being a soft-core …
I predict that whoever is leader, it’s practically irrelevant; if they keep up with a focus on factional allegiances rather than policy, Labor will never get back into office for the next zillion years anyway. Even if they change, the electorate is inherently reactionary (we are not a reflection of Australian society) and the economy is booming, count on waiting another fifty years.
I’m glad nostradamous is posting here, now we know what’ll happen in the future.
At least they can be confident that they won’t face any serious competition in the left, while the Dems and Greens continue to ignore the large moderate-social-left vote that’s up for grabs.
Not saying it is a winning group, but just a lot more people than either of them currently attracts.