Australian Liberal party leader publicly insulted his opponent’s wife, then resigned

John Brogden, the leader of the Liberal party in Australia, had to resign after he called his opponent’s wife a "mail order bride". The remark raised indignation in public, and the politician was obliged to apology.

"I acted dishonourably and now is the time to act honourably," he said.

He admitted having had a few drinks to celebrate Mr Carr's recent departure as state leader before making the comments at a party thrown for the media, according to BBC. But he denied being drunk at the Australian Hotels Association event three weeks ago, at which he also pinched the bottom of a female journalist and propositioned another.

Mr Brogden, who was tipped as a likely successor to Mr Carr in the next state elections, announced his resignation at a press conference in Sydney.

"The comments I made were absolutely and completely inappropriate. They are not true and I apologise for them fulsomely and genuinely," he said.

He also apologised to the two female journalists. "My actions were in jest but that does not excuse the fact they were inappropriate actions," said the married 37-year-old.

"Every Asian family in Australia has been diminished by John Brogden's racism," said recently retired NSW state Labor premier Bob Carr, defending his Malaysian-born wife Helena, Reuters says.

Photo by BBC.