John Howard has reversed his Prime Ministerial exit strategy. For seven years, the PM has stressed that his leadership of the Liberal Party will come to an end when his colleagues no longer support him in that role, but it didn’t turn out that way. How could we have got it so wrong?
Colleagues
That’s the thing PM: nobody likes you. Never did
About this time of year, back in 1992, one of the big guns of the Gallery made a remarkable discovery. They realised Paul Keating and the then GG, Bill Hayden, would be crossing paths on some bush airstrip on a Sunday afternoon. For a few days it became conventional wisdom that an election would be called then.
Spinning Howard’s end
We asked a range of spinners and PR operatives to advise the PM on the best means to an end: his dignified departure from office. Mike Smith writes the exit speech. Adam Kilgour advises on a smooth handover. Christain Kerr goes all the way with LBJ. Richard Farmer talks grace. Suzie Howie says honesty is the best policy.
