Peta Credlin in talks with Sky News to join federal election coverage

PREPARE to hear more from Peta Credlin. Tony Abbott’s former right hand woman is reportedly in talks to join Sky’s election coverage.

Peta Credlin pictured at the AWW Women of the Future held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in The Domain. Picture: Richard Dobson

PREPARE to hear more from Peta Credlin.

The woman who served as chief of staff to Tony Abbott when he was prime minister is set to join Sky News’ federal election coverage, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Ms Credlin is reportedly keen to make use of her “long memory”.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS STORY AT THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

The last month has been punishing for Ms Credlin, who features prominently in Niki Savva’s book Road to Ruin: How Tony Abbott and Peta Credlin Destroyed Their Own Government.

The book claims Mr Abbott “lived in a bubble built for two”, and Ms Credlin wielded too much influence over his government.

Niki Savva’s book “The Road to Ruin”.

Tony Abbott batted away calls to sack Ms Credlin when he was prime minister.

It also brings up rumours that Mr Abbott was having an affair with his chief of staff. According to Ms Savva, NSW Liberal MP Concetta Fierravanti-Wells confronted Mr Abbott about the rumours the day before he endured his first leadership challenge.

“Politics is about perceptions,” she told him. “Rightly or wrongly, the perception is that you are sleeping with your chief of staff. That’s the perception, and you need to deal with it.

“I am here because I care about you, and I care about your family, and I feel I need to tell you the truth, the brutal truth. This is what your colleagues really think.”

Peta Credlin didn’t think much of those rumours.

Ms Credlin responded to the rumours two weeks ago, labelling them “vicious and malicious”.

“Having watched at close quarters the extraordinary way that Labor ripped itself apart during the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd year, I am dismayed that my own side is heading down the same path,” she wrote in The Australian.

“The Australian people are sick of governments that aren’t focused on them, and in an election year they will ruthlessly punish infighting and paralysis.

“People tell me to ignore it but I refuse to let this stand,” Ms Credlin said in response. “I earned my good reputation by working hard for four cabinet ministers, three opposition leaders and one prime minister so I am not going to let these sneering cowards ­define me.”

Ms Credlin has never been scared to mince her words. You can see why Sky News wants her on board.