Crittenden and Yeadon to Step Down

There are reports today that serving Labor MPs Paul Crittenden and Kim Yeadon do not plan to contest the next election. It is expected that the former head of the Parents and Citizens Association, Sharryn Brownlee, will contest Yeadon's seat. This is not at all unexpected. Brownlee stepped down from the P&C recently after claims she had become `too close' to the Iemma Government, but I've heard her speak - impressively and articulately - many times (she was a regular guest on Murray Olds' much lamented Sunday morning panel show on 2UE) and it occurred to me each time that she'd be a shoo-in should a seat come up.

Herald hatcheteer Alex Mitchell suggests that the MPs are `cutting and running' in anticipation of an electoral bloodbath. This is quite absurd. As I've told so many people who have muttered darkly about the possible outcome of the next election - simply based on statistics, the NSW Government would find it extremely difficult to be thrown out of power.