The leadership battle has now descended into a public war of words over “numbers” with Ms Gillard’s backers claiming Mr Rudd would be embarrassed if a vote was called.

The Rudd camp said it was a strategy to try to bring on a spill and catch him off guard while he was overseas and not able to muster any support.

Two MPs aligned to Mr Rudd yesterday accused Regional Minister Simon Crean of secretly canvassing several cabinet ministers and MPs for support, to run as a third candidate against Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard.

They claimed he had been “bagging” Ms Gillard behind her back and suggested his public outburst against Mr Rudd on Monday, calling for him to be disciplined for disloyalty, was orchestrated to boost his own prospects.