Australia’s former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who was dramatically ousted by his own Labor Party in mid-2010, on Friday dismissed mounting speculation he will again challenge for the leadership.
As Australians prepare to vote in September polls, the popular Rudd rejected comments from high-profile opposition politician Malcolm Turnbull that he will lead the government into the election, telling him to take an “ice bath”.
“Give us a break,” Rudd told Channel Seven when asked about his aspirations.
“I said a week or so ago everyone should take a long cold shower
“What I’d say to Malcolm... is it’s time to jump in the ice bath. And stay there.”
Turnbull, himself a popular former leader of the conservative opposition Liberal Party who was ousted in a party room vote, said he suspected Labor would likely reinstall Rudd in place of Prime Minister Julia Gillard.