Telegraph: Supporters of former leader Kevin Rudd have begun moves to try to oust Ms Gillard less than three months before scheduled September elections, in a last-ditch move to try to turn around Australian opinion polls showing the party on track for a massive defeat.
Ms Gillard said she would retire from politics if she lost the vote and called on anyone contesting the leadership to do the same.
Labor has been paralysed by ongoing questions over the leadership of Ms Gillard, whose leadership has left the party in an apparently unwinnable position ahead of the September 14 election. Polls show Mr Rudd, if leader, would trigger a dramatic boost in Labor’s standing.
Mr Rudd lost a challenge against Ms Gillard last year and subsequently pledged that he would not challenge again but would only become leader if drafted by the entire party. Ms Gillard has insisted she will not step aside in favour of Mr Rudd, who is disliked, if not despised, by many Labor MPs.
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