Riginslinger, the Poms have never really stopped coming; it's just that 62 yearts ago Australia was at the tail end of being the American launchpad for the military push to defeat Japan and the Poms here were a bit outnumbered.

And in the thread's title comments, Warren Truss is now the Leader of the National Party. With any luck, John Who? will fade into oblivion. Although I'll be interested to see how a little tradition gets played out.

Traditionally, ex Prime Ministers were offered a knighthood until the Labor Govt got rid of imperial honours and replaced them with the serried ranks of the Order of Australia. When the Coalition defeated the ALP in 1996, Paul Keating was offered one by John Howard but declined, on the grounds that as an elected representative he was only doing what was required of any such person and thus was not deserving of special reward for duty. He then went to ground and played no public part in politics apart from some defense against politically motivated attempts at calumny.

After polling day but while he thaought he still had a chance at retaining his seat, John Howard commented that he'd ultimately reture and not make any public contribution to politics "unlike previous ex Prime Ministers"; he may well have had Malcolm Fraser in mind rather than Paul Keating, though.

Given that comment, will Rudd offer Howard an AO? Will Howard accept, if offered it?

Cheers, Rowan