Former Labor leader Mark Latham could be considering a return to politics – but hasn’t made his mind up on a potential political party yet.
Mr Latham, who led the Federal Labor party to its 2004 election defeat, flagged a possible return to Canberra on Sky News’ Paul Murray Live show last night.
"I've not made any decision — I do get people urging me, mainly on the basis, they say, that the country's gone crazy," he said.
Former Labor leader Mark Latham has flagged a potential return to politics. Source: AAP
"When you look at the political correctness, the identity politics, the anti-white racism.
"People so often say to me 'the country's gone mad. What's happened? Why has it changed so badly in the last decade? You should get in and do something'."
The former Labor leader, who is now a member of Senator David Leyonhjelm’s Liberal Democrats, appeared opposite One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson, who he this week voiced pre-recorded robocalls ahead of the upcoming by-election in Longman, north of Brisbane.
"I'm Mark Latham, former Labor party leader," he says on the recording, which was played on Sky News last night.
"I've had personal experience with Bill Shorten's dishonesty. He just lies and lies and lies."
The controversial politician-turned-commentator goes on to urge voters to support minor or independent parties and to “shake up the system and put some honest politics back in Canberra”.
"Whatever you do, don't reward Shorten's dishonesty, don't vote Labor," he says.
Mr Latham’s potential return to politics has been flagged several times in recent weeks and he recently revealed he’d been approached by four minor parties about running.
Despite the robocalls, Senator Hanson denied any approach had been made or invitation issued to Mr Latham.
But she told Paul Murray she'd be "happy to have him on board".
Pauline Hanson has praised the former Labor leader. Source: AAP
"Mark’s his own person - whether he wants to get involved in politics again, that’s up to Mark," she said.
"If I have Mark beside me on the floor of parliament – fantastic."
Senator Hanson praised the former Labor leader, saying he wasn't afraid to speak his mind.
"I have a lot of time for Mark Latham and his views and as he expresses them," she said.
"I think we need more people like that who are willing to say these issues – because a lot of it’s suppressed."
Senator Leyonhjelm this week confirmed he’d been in discussions with Mr Latham about a potential political comeback.
Mr Latham announced he was joining the Liberal Democrats in 2017 – an act that saw him hit with a life ban from the Labor party.
