Brian Burke has boasted that he gave Kevin Rudd a leadership leg-up.

According to a senior and well-connected source in WA politics, Burke spoke freely about his meetings with the then potential challenger to WA-based Labor leader Kim Beazley. 

Crikey’s source claims that Rudd’s three meetings with Brian Burke were aimed expressly at developing his federal leadership aspirations, and were followed by a series of telephone conversations, canvassing the same subject.

According to the source, Burke boasted subsequently that he had discussed the ALP leadership with Rudd and that leadership had been the purpose of his WA visit with Cowan MP and Burke mate Graham Edwards.

”The guts of it is that Rudd came across to see Burke for no other reason. He wanted Burke’s help and numbers.”

Rudd had been charmed by the disgraced former premier. ”Anyone who meets Rudd under these circumstances can’t fail but be impressed by his depth of knowledge and political gift,” the source said.

”Rudd isn’t helped by Edwards in all of this. He’s a great mate of Burke’s. His daughter was lined up to take over his seat and Campbell needed Burke. Now he’s torn between sucking up to Rudd and discrediting his mate. Tough.”