‘I was so stupid Kris’: Labor candidate’s apology to ex-Premier Kristina Keneally

HE hates ‘westies’ and now high-profile Labor candidate Evan Hughes has been forced to send Kristina Keneally a grovelling apology after making a crude remark about her on Facebook.

Evan Hughes is the Labor Candidate for Wentworth, running against sitting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the upcoming Federal Election. Picture: John Appleyard

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HIGH-profile Labor candidate Evan Hughes has sent Kristina Keneally a grovelling apology after making a crude remark about her on Facebook.

The Daily Telegraph revealed last week how Mr Hughes, who is the ALP candidate running against Malcolm Turnbull in the seat of Wentworth, joked on Facebook that if Ms Keneally won the 2011 state election he had an “enormous penis”.

The latest campaign controversy comes with concerns about the success of the NSW federal election campaign, with Labor officials understood to be unhappy campaign headquarters is in Melbourne instead of Sydney — where there are two winnable seats instead of 10.

Kristina Keneally hopes her Labor colleague has grown up. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Hughes has been forced to issue an apology. Picture: John Appleyard

The Daily Telegraph also understands that as well as trying to pick up seats in NSW, Labor has been forced to sandbag their own — with Werriwa, Parramatta and Greenway all considered to be under threat and Labor’s head office recently polling Werriwa — the former seat held by Gough Whitlam and Mark Latham.

Labor sources said their candidate for Wentworth was set to be disendorsed before he delivered his apology to Ms Keneally.

A letter sent by Mr Hughes to former premier Ms Keneally says: “I am writing to you to unequivocally apologise for the comments made by me in 2011, as published in the Daily Telegraph.

“I am deeply regretful that these comments were ever made, let alone not taken down.

“Your leadership of this state came at a difficult time for our party. You dealt with unimaginable challenges, and you did it with grace, intelligence and true leadership.

“You have been a great inspiration to me and others who aspire to office.

“What I have come to appreciate in the past few years is how important it is that our party — indeed all political parties — support and value the women’s equal participation and contribution.

“It means not tolerating sexualised language and calling out others when they demean women.

“I can’t help but admire the dignity, integrity and courage you and Julia Gillard showed when faced with misogynistic attacks. I don’t want to be seen as part of the problem. I want to be part of the solution.

Mr Hughes with his family Teddy, Harry and wife Kate Hughes. Picture: John Appleyard

“Five years ago, I was immature and stupid and I maligned you in a way that was not fair. I have apologised to (Labor’s general secretary) Kaila Murnain for the harm caused to the NSW branch and I offer my sincerest apologies to you.”

Comments used by Mr Hughes on Facebook had included: “Kristina Keneally playing politics against own party on the flood levy, two months before state election? This woman is criminally stupid,” as well as “Carbon tax is awesome ... Westies, grow up!”

Ms Keneally said last night: “Clearly Mr Hughes has learned a few lessons and I wish him all the best in the campaign.”

One senior Labor source said of the situation with Labor’s campaign headquarters being run out of Bill Shorten’s state of Victoria that it was an atmosphere of “tension” but that could often be the case in a federal campaign between NSW Labor and national office.