Former prime minister John Howard branded long-time treasurer Peter Costello "an elitist who couldn't connect with ordinary Australians".
According to the former PM's memoir, which is going on sale next week, Mr Costello botched the planned leadership transition, prompting Mr Howard to stay on as prime minister until his defeat in the 2007 election, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
According to Mr Howard, he was planning to hand the leadership to his deputy with the intention of prolonging Coalition rule.
But he abandoned this plan, he said, because Mr Costello overplayed the revelation in 2006 that they had a longstanding handover agreement.
Under public pressure from Mr Costello, Mr Howard decided to dig in and remained leader until he lost government, and his seat of Bennelong, in 2007.
