By Stephen Mayne

After Crikey expressed regret about publishing Mark Latham’s reference to his fling 17 years ago with SundayTelegraph editor Jeni Cooper, a journalist sent through the following: “The idea of someone from The Sunday Telegraph
getting upset about their ‘private life’ being made public is just too
funny for words. The only narcissism here is the hide of anyone working
for Rupert Murdoch to complain about anything.”

However, to get
some context in this debate you need to look at what Jeni Cooper
published about her former lover in the lead up to last year’s 2004
election. Six days before polling day, The Sunday Telegraph splashed with a Glenn Milne beat up, “Latham’s tax dodge.”

The Milne lie was nailed by Laurie Oakes a few hours later. With Howard banging on about it during his Sunday
interview, the Sphere of Influence retorted: “Well, if you say that
he’s dodged the question in this morning’s newspaper, if you read page
one of the Sunday Telegraph that’s the case. But if you read
through to page 104, which I suppose most people won’t, you find that
what he actually said was that he was prepared to give a commitment of
no tax increases apart from those he’s announced in the campaign.
That’s not dodging it.”

On July 4 last year, the paper served up the following on page one from Lincoln Wright:

Meanwhile, friends of the Opposition Leader’s former wife, Gabrielle Gwyther, released potentially damaging details of their troubled marriage of seven years. They said Ms Gwyther had felt intimidated by her husband and had left her Sydney home when Mr Latham secretly went on a holiday break with Janine Lacey, his new girlfriend and now wife, at Christmas, 1997.

A spokesman for the Opposition Leader last night said Ms Gwyther had given many interviews making false claims against Mr Latham. He said Mr Latham had responded to these in the past and did not intend to do so again.

Glenn Milne backed it up with this on page 9:

Allegations about Mark Latham’s treatment of his first wife, Gabrielle, threaten to derail the Labor Leader’s run for The Lodge. Gabrielle Gwyther has told family friends of less savoury aspects of her ex-husband’s temper.

Ms Gwyther’s comments became public as Channel Nine’s Sunday program prepared to air what it billed an “explosive” Mr Latham profile. It was that profile – which Mr Latham refused to co-operate with – which reignited inquiries about his personal life.

Ms Gwyther
was happy to assist last week, giving journalists the background on her
failed marriage. Her involvement will only add to the pre-election
volatility of national politics, with Labor pollsters nervously
watching what happens to Mr Latham’s support among women.

Then
there’s the claim – denied by the Opposition Leader – that he king-hit
a fellow Labor member while on Liverpool City Council. Over the past 48
hours, there has also been fevered speculation in Canberra about the
existence of a raunchy “buck’s night” video involving Mr Latham.

Political insiders have always been aware of rumours about Mr Latham’s
attitude to women, which he has always vehemently denied. Running for
the prime ministership means your private life inevitably belongs to
the nation. Fairly or unfairly, Mr Latham is undergoing this test by fire.

No wonder Latham now believes all’s fair in love and war with Jeni
Cooper. That material was a disgrace and she’s never recanted or even
publicly justified it.