Julia Gillard has lost a leadership ballot in the Australian Labor Party to former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. She called the contest to bring an end to the battles in her party – and in doing so has lost her job. Before the vote, she said:
‘Anybody who enters the ballot tonight should do it on the following conditions: that if you win you’re Labor leader, that if you lose you retire from politics.’
She added that ‘tonight is the night’. But the official results, announced in the last few minutes, saw Rudd taking 57 votes, and Gillard only 45.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in