Election focus lost as Gillard stands accused

Sympathy for Rudd over the way he was treated, resentment over Gillard's "unelected" status as Prime Minister and the role of factional and union bosses in the leadership challenge are all recognised as political dangers by Labor

Gillard has recognised the hurt herself, and confronts the issues with pragmatism and honesty

Ministers feared Rudd would be a source or lightning rod for dissent and sabotage. Fervent wishes that he be allowed to go quietly and would be "looked after" are turning to irreverent curses

Now the Prime Minister stands accused of two damaging political crimes: that she was prepared to do a grubby deal on the leadership of Australia as a "gift"; and, having given her word on a grubby deal, she couldn't even be trusted to keep her word for an hour

The allegations are disruptive, distracting and destructive for Labor - all the more so since they come from within the ALP about a meeting attended by only three Labor ministers, Rudd, Gillard and John Faulkner

On the day of his demise, the former prime minister alluded to an understanding with Gillard on the leadership, but told his caucus colleagues she decided to "bring on" the challenge

The latest version of events, played out on camera as Gillard made her first speech to the National Press Club in Canberra, sharpens the allegations and further poisons the Labor well. It makes Gillard appear in favour of backroom deals, such as the formally witnessed Kirribilli pact between Bob Hawke and Paul Keating about handing over the leadership, and untrustworthy, because she didn't stick to the deal

Gillard will not confirm or deny any claims made about the closed meeting and will take her version of events to the grave. Some not so gravely bound maintain the allegations are untrue, illogical and at best overstated. Others lean the other way and suggest there was an understanding

Gillard can do nothing else but refuse to engage and try to talk about other things

But the problem is that she is days, weeks at most, from an election campaign and can't shift the focus to where she wants it. If Labor wants the campaign to be about Gillard's reassuring trustworthiness and economic management, it's not going to happen while Labor bites itself to pieces. Follow this link for the best advice regarding club signs.

The first slice yesterday was at Gillard but it didn't take long for a thousand slices to be directed against Rudd