craig emerson blasts 'destructive' kevin rudd

Former Labor frontbencher Craig Emerson has delivered a scorching critique of Kevin Rudd, blaming him for the damaging leaks against Julia Gillard in the 2010 campaign and saying he must quit parliament.

Mr Rudd resigned as leader of the Labor Party on Saturday night after conceding defeat to Tony Abbott and has not spoken publicly since.

He won his central Brisbane seat of Griffith and has indicated to colleagues that he will sit on the backbench for the three-year term.

But Dr Emerson, who quit the ministry and parliament when Mr Rudd returned as prime minister in June, says he should move on from politics.

He has blamed Mr Rudd for "destabilising" Ms Gillard's campaign in 2010 with damaging leaks and undermining her leadership throughout her term in office.

"Anyone who does that, who is so hell-bent on revenge, who is so destructive as to depress the Labor vote in the 2010 election shouldn't be rewarded for that sort of behaviour," Dr Emerson told the ABC's 7.30 program.

"He came back as prime minister, the election was a disaster for Labor.

"And Kevin Rudd's continuing presence in the parliamentary Labor Party will see him do what he has always done, and that is willingly, wilfully, recklessly, destabilise Labor leaders.

"It is in the best interests of the party for Kevin Rudd to leave the Parliament."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-09/craig-emerson-blasts-kevin-rudd-for-labor-downfall2c-says-he-m/4946380