Latham quits as Australian Labor leader
{{byline|date=January 18, 2005|location=AUSTRALIA}}Following hospitalisation for [[w:Pancreatitis|pancreatitis]] and ongoing speculation about his leadership, [[w:Mark Latham|Mark Latham]] has resigned from his roles as leader of the [[w:Australian Labor Party|Australian Labor Party (ALP)]] and also the [[w:Australian House of Representatives|Federal Member]] for [[w:Werriwa|Werriwa]]. He cited as reasons the media harassment, and a desire to put his family and health first.

Mr Latham became leader of the ALP just over a year ago, on [[w:2 December|2 December]], [[w:2003|2003]], leading the party during the October 2004 federal election. He was hospitalised in the run-up to that election, also for treatment of pancreatitis. Following the defeat of his party, his leadership increasingly came under question.

He fell ill a second time almost simultaneously with last year's [[2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami|Indian Ocean tsunami disaster]]. His failure to issue a statement on the tsunami drew criticism from the media and calls for his resignation from within his own party, even after it was revealed that he had been incapacitated at the time.

Mr Latham's resignation sidesteps the possibility of a leadership challenge by other members of the party and leaves no clear successor.

==References==

*{{source|url=http://www.alp.org.au/media/0105/msfll180.php |title= Statement by Mark Latham |author=Mark Latham |pub=Australian Labor Party |date=18th January 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200408/s1181538.htm |title=Latham confident of fitness to govern |author=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |pub=ABC News Online |date=20 August, 2004}}

 
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[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Published]]
Following hospitalisation for pancreatitis and ongoing speculation about his leadership, Mark Latham has resigned from his roles as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and also the Federal Member for Werriwa. He cited as reasons the media harassment, and a desire to put his family and health first.

Mr Latham became leader of the ALP just over a year ago, on 2 December, 2003, leading the party during the October 2004 federal election. He was hospitalised in the run-up to that election, also for treatment of pancreatitis. Following the defeat of his party, his leadership increasingly came under question.

He fell ill a second time almost simultaneously with last year's Indian Ocean tsunami disaster. His failure to issue a statement on the tsunami drew criticism from the media and calls for his resignation from within his own party, even after it was revealed that he had been incapacitated at the time.

Mr Latham's resignation sidesteps the possibility of a leadership challenge by other members of the party and leaves no clear successor.
Australia Politics and conflicts Published