Julia Gillard has called a leadership ballot for 10am on Monday morning.
Gillard says she expects to receive the support of her colleagues, but if she isn’t successful she will go the backbench and renounce any future leadership ambitions.
In a press conference in Washington this morning, Kevin Rudd said he has had conversations overnight and is pleased and encouraged by the support he has received to contest the leadership.
But, Rudd says he will wait until he returns to Australia to make a statement about the leadership.
Kevin Rudd resigned as Foreign Minister yesterday evening, saying he can’t continue in his portfolio without the support of Julia Gillard and senior ministers.
He launched a scathing attack on Regional Development Minister Simon Crean, and what he calls the “faceless men” of the Labor Party, comparing the leadership speculation to a soap opera.
