Fed: Labor decides today who will lead party to next poll

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2003
Fed: Labor decides today who will lead party to next poll

CANBERRA, Dec 2 AAP - Labor MPs and senators will today decide whether Kim Beazley
or Mark Latham will lead them to next year's election.

The party's 92 elected representatives will meet in parliament for a ballot on the
leadership post, with a decision likely to be known by 10am AEDT.

It follows last week's decision by party leader Simon Crean to resign, after party
elders said he had lost the support of a majority of the caucus.

The vote is too close to call, with backers of both Mr Beazley and Mr Latham unable
to claim victory because of a large number of undecided votes.

Lobbying by both camps continued through the day and into the night.

It even extended to Labor's traditional Christmas drinks, which was effectively boycotted
by Mr Beazley's supporters and strongly supported by those backing Mr Latham.

Opposition Leader Simon Crean signalled to journalists he would be staying on, no matter
the result of today's ballot.

"I've never been a quitter," he said.

Party sources believe there is just a handful of votes between the two, with neither
likely to be able to claim a substantial mandate.

Mr Latham is pushing himself as a generational candidate, and one able to cut through
to the voting public with Labor's policies.

Mr Beazley's supporters have talked up his ability to tackle Prime Minister John Howard
on national security issues.

Both men have kept their public comments in check, leaving it to behind-the-scenes
personal lobbying to win over support.

AAP sw/cjh

KEYWORD: LABOR DAYLEAD

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