No last-minute retreat or deputy deal: Albanese ANTHONY Albanese has denied striking a deal to become Kevin Rudd's deputy in a spill of the Labor leadership, as he fought off accusations that he had been deeply involved in last week's bid to dislodge Julia Gillard. The government leader in the lower house also insisted he had not called Labor colleagues to secure their votes for Mr Rudd in the hours before the leadership challenge collapsed last Thursday.