Ministers Line Up to Warn Off Rudd

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: SENIOR supporters of Julia Gillard have rounded on Kevin Rudd, telling him to drop his leadership ambitions because the party would never have him back.

With Ms Gillard today using a keynote speech on the economy to try to break the slump in her form, the Regional Development Minister, Simon Crean, went after Mr Rudd yesterday, saying he was not a team player but a prima donna who did not have the numbers to mount a challenge.

''He can't be prime minister again. He's got to accept that,'' Mr Crean said. ''People will not elect as leaders those they don't perceive as team players.'' (+ video) » | Phillip Cooray, Chief Political Correspondent | Wednesday, February 01, 2012