Rudd quits Parliament

Stuff reports:

Ex-Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has announced he is quitting  parliament.

He said there came a time in every politician’s life when their  family said “enough is enough”.

The former prime minister and foreign minister said he would not  be continuing beyond this week.

He said the slings and arrows of parliament “hit home to our  families as well”.

“For our family, recent statements since the September election  have been particularly hurtful,” Rudd said in a speech to the House of Representatives tonight.

Having your colleagues tell the truth about you must be very hard.

Rudd had such great potential as Prime Minister, but his personal style made him a disaster.

Rudd said it was a privilege to be asked to return to the  prime ministership this year, and that they’d been able to “save  the furniture” in the election.

Asked to return! As if he was unwilling. It was his third coup attempt!