Paul Kelly Calls On Howard To Step Down

Murdoch's man politely insists it's time to go:

Howard can work as hard as he likes, but the problem transcends diligence and capability.

Howard's formula is that he would stay leader only as long as his party wanted him.

The party is not going to depose Howard and Peter Costello is not going to challenge him. Howard's leadership lies in his own hands.

For 12 years he has stayed Liberal leader because he judged correctly that he was the party's best election winner. That was true in 1995 and it was true in 2006. But is it still true in September 2007?

What is the real message of the polls? Is it for Howard to bring on the election? Or is it that the public has closed its mind against him?

Howard has no intention of walking away from this battle because for him that would be an act of panic and cowardice.

But if the Liberal Party really believes the election is lost, then Howard must consider his responsibility as leader. He needs, at least, to re-examine his position and decide whether its logic remains valid.

Of course, Kelly has just devoted a whole article to proving that the logic is not valid.