Enough’s enough of the Craig Laundy sledging

As an MP, Craig Laundy not only claimed a seat back from Labor in the 2013 election, but also served as an effective local member and loyal party member. So why the unnecessary hate now, asks Miranda Devine.

The most unfairly maligned politician in the election campaign was outgoing Reid MP Craig Laundy.

Yes, he resigned (to attend to some family health and return to his family’s hotel business), but so did a lot of his colleagues without copping as much vitriol.

RELATED: Craig Laundy returns to work at family’s pub empire after quitting politics

He heroically won the inner-west Sydney seat from Labor in the 2013 election.

Before retiring as the member for Reid, Craig Laundy served as the Minister for Small Business. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

But he opposed the Dutton coup last August, choosing to stand by the then prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and was photographed alongside him to the bitter end.

It was an honourable position, but it earned him the undying enmity of Turnbull haters.

They threw him into the same boat as turncoat MP Julia Banks when all he has done since the coup is help the Liberal party retain Reid and generally keep his mouth shut.

RELATED: Craig Laundy will work ‘tirelessly’ alongside new Liberal candidate for Reid

When Laundy respected Scott Morrison’s wishes not to announce his resignation until a suitable candidate could be found in Reid he was called a wrecker.

Craig Laundy donated $100,000 of his own money to the new Liberal Candidate for Reid Fiona Martin. Picture: John Appleyard

He promised the PM he would help Fiona Martin win the seat and poured $100,000 of his own money into her campaign, and was out on the hustings day in, day out from 7am.

He does not deserve the attacks and casual sideswipes.

People who have never met him call him a traitor and a two-timer, but Reid Liberals have nothing but praise for him.

@mirandadevine