It was Crean who said in February last year that Rudd should run for the leadership or back Gillard wholeheartedly and labelled the short-serving PM disloyal.

He was then believed to have been instrumental in the backroom in quashing any return to the top job for Rudd.

News Limited reports that insiders believe Crean would be a steadying influence as they go to the September 14 elections, which Gillard called.

“The critical factor will be what people think their constituents will say to them when they go home,” a Labor source was quoted.

Crean today has spoken out against the Prime Minister’s plan to launch a media reform package. 

Image via AAP