Kevin Rudd’s tilt at becoming Australian prime minister has stumbled after revelations of alcohol-fuelled late night shenanigans in a New York “gentlemen’s club” four years ago.

Rudd, who has enjoyed favourable polling since he was elected Labor leader last year, was forced to admit and then apologise for his clandestine visit to the Scores strip club with Warren Snowdon, a fellow Labor MP, and Col Allan, New York Post editor, after an Australian newspaper reported in some detail the night’s proceedings.