Peta Credlin says Kevin Rudd, Malcolm Turnbull have ‘very bruised egos’

Peta Credlin has hit out at two former Prime Ministers, describing the them as men with “very bruised egos”.

Peta Credlin has hit out at Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull, describing the former Prime Ministers as men with “very bruised egos” after being toppled by their parties.

The former chief of staff to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, appearing in a Sky News documentary airing this Sunday that traces the parallels between the former Labor and Liberal leaders, suggests Mr Rudd and Mr Turnbull are desperate to stay in the limelight in their post-political life.

“There’s some very bruised egos with these two men, after their time in politics,” Credlin, now a Sky News host, says in Men In The Mirror: Rudd & Turnbull.

“And it’s about finding in their post-political life some sort of platform where they are engaged in the national conversation, where they can be as effective, as influential, and possibly for both of them as popular again from the outside, in a way that they never fulfilled on the inside.”

The former PMs have become ‘frenemies’. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The documentary features interviews with a number of people who witnessed the political careers of both men up close, including Mr Rudd’s older brother Greg Rudd, former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, former Liberal Senator Nick Minchin and former Liberal Minister Sharman Stone.

“Not only do they have to be in a room full of clever people, but they have to demonstrate that they are the cleverest in the room,” Credlin says.

But she argues Mr Turnbull had difficulty relating to the public.

“I don’t know whether this was a dislike of people, or actually an innate shyness, but I think Malcolm Turnbull found it very difficult to engage with strangers,” she says.

Mr Beattie argues that Prime Minister Scott Morrison should give Mr Rudd and Mr Turnbull something useful to do.

“I just see two really bright, intelligent men who are running around, still consumed by the fact that they lost the job,” he says.

“They’re blaming everyone else but themselves, whereas they’ve got a contribution to make to this country. They’re smart enough to do it. I’d urge them to do it. I’d say to Scott Morrison, ‘Scott, for God’s sake, find them something constructive to do. Do what the Americans do. Use our Prime Ministers. Use Abbott, whoever else, for the country.’ If they don’t want to do that, then both of them are wealthy enough to make a contribution in their own way. They should do that. Be positive.”

Malcolm Turnbull speaking on the Today show.

Host Chris Kenny says the similarities between the “two compelling political figures has intrigued me for years, and now they have become frenemies in their post-political lives, the parallel narrative became irresistible”.

“Theirs is a ripping story I am eager to share,” he says.

“It is unusual enough for any politician to achieve the federal leadership of their party, let alone lose it and reclaim it, along with the prime ministership – Rudd and Turnbull both did this, against the odds. They have many attributes in common – brilliance, determination and self-belief – but they also shared fatal flaws, especially an inability to keep their colleagues on side.”

Kenny adds, “We have become used to political instability – before Rudd, this country had just three prime ministers over almost a quarter of a century, then we had six changes in just over a decade. Rudd and Turnbull have been driving forces during this period of upheaval, and they are intent on having a say long into the future, which makes them absolutely fascinating characters in our national debate.”

Men In The Mirror: Rudd & Turnbull premieres this Sunday at 8pm AEST on Sky News on Foxtel