THERE were tears, tributes, insults; even a denial from his daughter that she'd be taking his place in politics.

That's the sort of impact Australia has come to expect from Kevin Rudd – and it was exactly what we got in the hours after his shock resignation last night.

In the drama-filled hours after his tearful speech there have been tributes, oddly enough from Julia Gillard, and insults, unsurprisingly from Mark Latham.

Amid the mud-slinging, his daughter Jessica Rudd took to Twitter to deny reports that she planned to run for her father's seat in Griffith after his shock resignation.

Ms Rudd, who lives in Beijing with husband Albert and daughter Josie, took to Twitter to refute speculation by Fairfax Media that she would run as an ALP candidate for his old seat.

"Getting loads of media enquiries about @theage's yarn, so thought I'd just say something here," Ms Rudd tweeted.

"I'm flattered to be considered a potential candidate but I spent the morning writing with Josie on our Beijing play-mat surrounded by Duplo," she wrote.

"For now, this is where I belong," she wrote. "Our local branch members will choose an excellent candidate for this by-election - big boots to fill - and that person can count on my support."

Earlier, former Labor leader Mark Latham put in his king size boot and called Kevin Rudd a ''bastard'' and a ''once-in-a-century egomaniac''.

media_camera Kevin Rudd's tears flowed openly during speeches from the floor. Picture: Gary Ramage

While Kevin Rudd's former foe Julia Gillard offered him best wishes, Mr Latham was one of a few voices to take the opposite tack saying Mr Rudd wiped out the credit he deserved for his 2007 election triumph by leaking against the party three years later to fulfill his own personal ambitions.

OFFICIAL: KEVIN RUDD'S FAREWELL SPEECH

Mr Latham was giving a radio interview this morning when he said of Mr Rudd, "quite truthfully, he was a bastard".

Calling for Mr Rudd to get down to the gym and ''get on the treadmill'', Mr Latham this morning repeated his claims Mr Rudd was a ''once-in-a-century egomaniac'' who had sabotaged his own caucus colleagues during the 2010 election – his most memorable contribution.

Will you miss Kevin Rudd's presence in Australian politics? Give us your views on his legacy here and tell us in the comments field below

''That is the moment in history for which he will be most remembered,'' the former opposition leader told radio 2UE.

''I think history will be very unkind to him.''

Mr Latham said Mr Rudd inflicted the hung parliament on his party and then undermined Julia Gillard for three years.

media_camera Jessica Rudd reckons a monocle would look great on her dad, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Picture: Brad Hunter

''The people who knew him best hated him most and the people who never met him thought he was alright,'' Mr Latham said.

''The Labor caucus knew him inside out. I don’t want to exaggerate, but truthfully he was a bastard, wasn’t he?

''He was such a vicious, egotistic vicious person in the parliamentary history. He destabilised every leader under whom he served. He notoriously sabotaged Labor’s 2010 election campaign with those vengeful leaks.

''In the long sweep of Labor history, it is hard to find a character who was more destructive inside the caucus, fuelled by his own personal ambition.''

Asked if his behaviour between 2010 to 2013 undermining Ms Gillard and Labor had wiped out his achievement of being the man who knocked over John Howard in 2007, Mr Latham said: ''In large part''.

COMMENT: RUDD CLAIMS FINAL SCALP - HIS OWN

But Mr Latham said the retirement was good news for Bill Shorten, who could now put behind the ''vicious destabilising presence'' of Mr Rudd on the backbench.

And Mr Latham said Mr Rudd could now pursue his greatest passion of racking up frequent flyer points in political retirement.

media_camera Kevin Rudd wipes away the tears after resigning. Picture: Kym Smith

''He is the first defeated prime minister to come back to the backbench since Billy McMahon,'' he said.

''At least you can give Rudd credit for coming back as a defeated prime minister and facing up. It just didn’t last long.''

He added that the biggest surprise last night was not Mr Rudd resigning but developments on the episode of The Bachelor television dating show.

''What are we going to talk about now? In many respects we will miss him,'' Mr Latham laughed.

''Get down to the gym and get on the treadmill. That would be my advice.''

Meanwhile, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said Mr Rudd would always remain in the spotlight.

FLASHBACK: KEVIN RUDD'S DIRTY DOZEN MOMENTS

"It's all about Kevin, it always has been, and it always will be," he told reporters.

Senior Liberal Christopher Pyne said he could not wait to hear what former Labor ministers Stephen Conroy, Kate Ellis and Nicola Roxon had to say about Mr Rudd.

"(They) chased him down like the weak wildebeest in the pack until they tore him apart," he said.

Former Labor government parliamentary secretary Maxine McKew said Mr Rudd was not a "tribal Labor" leader and so never had the trust of his colleagues, although never built trust in others.

Ms McKew said the outstanding question for her, and history, was whether things would have been different for Mr Rudd had he been told by senior Labor figures in early 2010 things had to change.

"That did not happen, it was a dereliction of duty and history could have been different," she told ABC radio.

Earlier Julia Gillard - who ''knifed'' Mr Rudd - joined the salutes to her fellow former PM.

Ms Gillard this morning tweeted, ''Best wishes to Kevin, Therese & their family as they embark on the next stage of their lives. ''

media_camera Happier Times: Kevin Rudd embraces his wife Therese and his sons Marcus and Nicholas after winning the 2007 Federal Election. Picture: AFP

And the man booted out of office by Mr Rudd at the 2007 election paid tribute to Mr Rudd’s service and declared he expected Mr Rudd to maintain his interest in public affairs.

Former prime minister John Howard, who not only was bundled out of the PM’s office but lost his own Sydney seat at the Kevin07 election, today said Mr Rudd had enjoyed the honour of holding the nation’s highest office.

''Janette and I wish Kevin Rudd, his wife Therese and their family good fortune and good health in the years ahead,'' Mr Howard said in a statement.

''I have no doubt that the former Prime Minister will retain his lively interest in public affairs, particularly of the international variety, which has been such a passion of his.

''Kevin Rudd brought energy and commitment to the pursuit of the goals he sought in politics. To have led his party back into government after almost 12 years in opposition was an impressive achievement.

''There can be no greater privilege for an Australian than to become Prime Minister of our great country. Kevin Rudd had that privilege.''

Mr Rudd’s confidante Bruce Hawker this morning predicted the former PM would find his place on the world stage but he would not rush into anything and just wait for the right offer.

“I think that is where he will find his place in coming months and years,'' he said.

media_camera Bill Shorten comforts Kevin Rudd after he announced his resignation. Picture: Kym Smith

“I think he will still play an international public role at some stage. I don’t think Kevin Rudd will ever just fade away.”

Mr Hawker said he chose the right forum to announce his retirement, saying it was a “thought bubble” for Mr Rudd to consider staying on as leader on the night of the election.

“I thought at some stage he would make the move but I was surprised when he did it last night,” Mr Hawker said.

Mr Hawker said Mr Rudd’s seat of Griffith would be tough to hold but it was possible, saying Labor had strong local issues to campaign such as Brisbane’s Cross River Rail.Rudd became prime minister in 2007, defeating John Howard.

More light has also been shed on Labor's potential candidate in Griffith, with a close friend of Mr Rudd ruling herself out of contention for preselection.

Brisbane City Councillor Shayne Sutton this morning tweeted: "Thank you for all the messages of support but I won't be standing in Griffith. I love being the Councillor for Morningside Ward."

Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie this afternoon ruled out running in the Griffith by-election, though he did recently break another promise to stay out of politics when he ran unsuccessfully in the seat of Forde.

''I am retired from politics for good and have no interest in running in Griffith. This is a time to rebuild with a young candidate,'' Mr Beattie said.

''Heather and I send our best wishes to Kevin Rudd, Therese and family for the future.''



How Rudd's resignation unfolded

IN a shock speech to parliament last night the former Prime Minister, with tears in his eyes, said he would leave before the end of the week.

Mr Rudd was branded one of the most divisive figures in Australian politics in recent years.

Claiming the "slings and arrows" of political life had taken its toll, Mr Rudd, who was elected as the member for Griffith in 1998, said it was time to give something back to his family.

''My family have given their all to me in public life," he said.

''It's now time I gave something back to them.

"This has been the product of much soul searching over the last 12 months.

media_camera Anthony Albanese gives his friend and colleague Kevin Rudd a bear hug. Picture: Kym Smith

To all my friends on Twitter I wanted to tell you all that I have decided to go on to the next phase of my life. — Kevin Rudd (@KRuddMP) November 13, 2013

''The decision I have made has not been taken lightly."

He paused several times to compose himself, though at one stage joked he could use some gin, prompting laughs.

Mr Rudd's his time as prime minister came to an abrupt end in June 2010 when he was dumped by his party in favour of Julia Gillard.

Mr Rudd re-claimed the job of prime minister in June this year when he defeated Ms Gillard in a party-room showdown.

But he went on to lose the September 7 election to Tony Abbott.

media_camera DETERMINED: Kevin Rudd on an early morning walk in Brisbane during the 2013 Federal Election campaign. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

OPINION: RUDD LEAVES A MIXED LEGACY

MPs in his own party have been calling on Mr Rudd to resign since the election loss, claiming it was time for the political division in the party to be put to an end.

Mr Rudd said it was a privilege to be asked to return to the prime ministership this year, and that they'd been able to "save the furniture" in the election.

Thank for all you kindness and support. http://t.co/nyMVFh9ld1 KRudd — Kevin Rudd (@KRuddMP) November 13, 2013

"In fact I think do considerably better than that," he said, to cheers of "hear hear" from the Opposition frontbench.

"I'm glad that all you folk in the frontbench were returned in one piece as well, and that we return Labor as a fighting force for the next election."

media_camera Kevin Rudd is congratulated by Joe Hockey and Malcolm Turnbull after resigning in the House of Representatives chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

TRIBUTES: FRIENDS AND FOES THANK RUDD

His government had introduced a national curriculum, the first ever paid parental leave scheme and a pension increase.

But it was the official apology to indigenous Australians in 2008 that remained the highlight of his political career.

"Nothing has brought me greater joy in political life than the smiles I have seen on the faces of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, young and old, country and city, as a result of the apology," he said.

"I hope though that what we've archived through some healing of the soul will be the first step, the second of course is closing the gap to achieve a healing of broken bodies as well."

LABOR 'CAN BE STRONG IN GRIFFITH'

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Mr Rudd's apology was a significant moment for all Australians.

"Whatever disagreements my colleagues and I have had with Mr Rudd, we will always honour what he achieved on the day of the National Apology. Ancient wrongs were addressed that day. It was a great moment in our country’s history and it happened because of him," he said in a statement.

media_camera Ken Wyatt chats to Kevin Rudd following his resignation. Picture: Gary Ramage

"I am glad that Mr Rudd has said that he intends to continue this commitment to indigenous Australians.

"While Mr Rudd will no longer continue as a parliamentarian, I have every confidence that he will continue to serve our country and the values that he has always believed in," Mr Abbott said.

Labor's Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Mr Rudd for his service to his party.

"I am proud to have served as Deputy Prime Minister when Kevin returned to the prime ministership earlier this year," Mr Albanese said in a statement.

"I am also proud to have worked with Kevin to begin democratising Australian Labor Party processes, leading to our party’s first national leadership ballot involving rank-and-file party members," he said.

Labor leader Bill Shorten identified Mr Rudd's apology, changes to industrial relations and his stewardship during the Global Financial Crisis as among his greatest achievements.

ONLINE: RUDD FAREWELLS TWITTER FOLLOWERS

media_camera Kevin Rudd flanked by supporters in 2008 after he apologised to indigenous Australians.

"We are a fairer, stronger society because of Kevin Rudd," he said.

He also led Labor during a difficult time, and his return to the prime ministership before the September election had improved the ALP's fortunes.

"This is a tumultuous era in Labor, and with the member for Griffith's resignation tonight, part of it comes to a close," Mr Shorten said.

"I do not believe that we will see his like again in the Australian parliament."

Treasurer Joe Hockey shared the limelight on breakfast television with Mr Rudd for many years.

"I have seen the Kevin Rudd that many haven't seen, including sharing semi-nakedness with him in a river in Papua New Guinea," he said.

"I think he is in many ways the luckiest guy in Australia: he married a beautiful woman."

Leader of the House Christopher Pyne praised Mr Rudd's passion and intellect, saying he could have chosen any distinguished career but had opted instead for a life of public service.

media_camera Kevin Rudd with his son Marcus following his resignation announcement. Picture: Gary Ramage

BOLT: HIS STRENGTH WAS HIS WEAKNESS

Mr Pyne thanked Mr Rudd for his friendship, especially while his wife was going through a difficult pregnancy a number of years ago.

"The member for Griffith could not have been more supportive to me as a human being," he said.

- with AAP

Originally published as Bouquets, bastardry: Rudd's farewell