Mark Latham is ‘considering all options’ after being approached to join Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.
The former federal Labor leader, who is now a critic of high immigration and multiculturalism, was among a list of high-profile people the Queensland senator had approached.
The 57-year-old media commentator, who grew up in working class south-west Sydney, told Sunrise the offer to join her right-wing party was ‘very flattering’.
Mark Latham (pictured casting his vote at the 2004 election as Labor leader) is ‘considering all options’ after being approached to join Pauline Hanson’s right-wing One Nation party
Mr Latham, who led Labor to defeat at the 2004 election, said he had ‘been approached by representatives of four different parties wanting me to run in the Senate,’ 9 News reported.
Appearing on Sunrise with former Victorian Liberal premier Jeff Kennett, Mr Latham gave little away.
‘I’m not going to be talking about private conversations. I can’t go into details,’ he said today.
‘It’s a classic non-denial, denial.
‘The serious point is the country is heading in the wrong direction.
‘The major parties are on the nose.’
The former Labor leader is just one of a number of high profile political figures Ms Hanson (pictured) has tried to recruit
Australian Conservatives senator Cory Bernardi and maverick north Queensland MP Bob Katter, who both last year campaigned against gay marriage, have also been rumoured to have been asked to join One Nation.
‘There’s more chance of the Pope becoming a Muslim’ than him joining One Nation,’ Bob Katter responded in relation to Mr Latham’s potential recruitment.
Katter’s son Robbie, a member of the Queensland parliament, was also approached by the party, which is opposed to high immigration and multiculturalism.
Those within Ms Hanson’s One Nation party have not denied or dismissed speculations over recruitment allegations
A spokesman for Senator Bernardi said ‘the only party he’s interested in being a member of is the one he started, the Australian Conservatives’.
Talk of Mark Latham joining One Nation, to head the party’s Senate ticket at the next election, gained momentum after New South Wales senator Brian Burston was accused by his own boss, Pauline Hanson, of trying to defect to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party – an accusation he denied.
Senator Burston’s support for the Turnbull Government’s corporate tax cuts also exposed a division within One Nation.
Senator Hanson emotionally accused him of stabbing her ‘in the back’.
‘For him to turn around and do this to me – it’s hard. But I’m going to keep going and get good people in that parliament beside me, because it means so much to me to help the people that need help,’ she told Sky News host Ben Fordham.
Those within One Nation have not denied or dismissed speculations over recruitment allegations.
Daily Mail Australia attempted to contact Ms Hanson and Mr Latham but did not receive a response.