Time for Labor to break the deadlock LABOR will vote on the leadership and deputy leadership at 4.30pm. "In the meantime, take your best shot," Prime Minister Julia Gillard said as she sat in Parliament knowing a significant number of Labor MPs sitting behind her want her removed. Ms Gillard and Kevin Rudd will face off in a ballot which could see Labor sack the first woman to become Prime Minister and return the man she ousted in his first term. The aim is to eliminate what frontbencher and Rudd-backer Richard Marles today called "the dead stinking cat" of the contested ALP leadership. But it could also bring on an election before the September 14 scheduled date. If Mr Rudd wins, Labor could lose the support of the cross bench independents, particularly Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott who have kept the minority Gillard administration in power. That would make Mr Rudd vulnerable to a no-confidence motion. The showdown was triggered by two remarkable press conferences today held by Labor elder statesman Simon Crean, the Regional Development Minister - frank declarations which later today saw him sacked by Ms Gillard. In the first press conference, Mr Crean said he supported Ms Gillard but was critical of her performance. In the second, just a few hours later, he swung his support in the other direction and said he wanted to be Mr Rudd's deputy Prime Minister "to demonstrate that we are serious not just about changing leaders but showing leadership." Mr Crean's central role in the leadership turmoil of this week was revealed on Tuesday night when news.com.au exclusively reported he had been urged to be "the third candidate" for leader to break the Gillard-Rudd impasse. Today, Mr Crean confirmed he considered the approaches but decided he did not have the numbers. Mr Crean spoke to Mr Rudd on Tuesday night and to Ms Gillard on Wednesday afternoon and again today. It seems to me the party, through the Government, is in a stalemate position. Something needs to be done to break this deadlock," said Mr Crean as he announced his switch to Mr Rudd. And to enable us to get on with the job that we were actually elected to do and that is to campaign on behalf of Australian people through Labor values. Mr Crean was one of the toughest critics of Mr Rudd in February last year when the leadership issue last went to a ballot. But Mr Crean said the man he wanted back as PM had changed. He said voters did not want an Abbott government "but is fed up with us at the moment."