Gloves off
Treasurer Peter Costello has really taken off the gloves over his leadership ambitions in succeeding John Howard as Prime Minister. This is as close to an open declaration of war as he’s made:
“He told me that he intended to do 1½ terms as prime minister and then would hand over,” he said.
“I did not seek that undertaking, he volunteered and I took him at his word.
“Obviously that did not happen.”
John Howard has denied any deal was ever made. He said:
“There were lots of discussions at that time including one at which Mr McLachlan was present,” Mr Howard said.
“That did not involve the condition of a deal.
“I think everybody should take a bit of a reality check.”
So who’s telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? My suspicion is neither, they are both choosing to interpret things to suit themselves. Looking at Ian McLachlan’s recollection of the conversation back in 1994, he says Howard said something like:
“I can’t guarantee this to you Peter, but my intention is not to hang around forever… if I win I’ll serve two terms and hand over to you.”
Plenty of weasel room there, right? In related news, Alexander Downer was “not aware” of any such deal. Hardly surprising given his complete lack of awareness of anything his department was doing over the AWB Iraq bribes scandal.
Technorati Tags: John Howard, Peter Costello, Prime Minister, leadership, Alexander Downer, Ian McLachlan
July 10th, 2006 at 5:18 am
Well, we know our pollies never lie. They might be a little inventive with the truth…
To be honest, I think AD doesn’t know anything about what’s going on because he doesn’t want to be told without asking, and never asks.