Brown, Harman to lead Labour
Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman at today's leadership conference
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Sunday, 24, Jun 2007 09:59
Gordon Brown has been confirmed as leader of the Labour party, with Harriet Harman voted in as his deputy.
After being introduced by outgoing leader Tony Blair at a special conference in Manchester, Mr Brown gave his first speech as head of the party.
Justice minister Ms Harman was named the party's deputy after beating five other MPs to win the ballot of Labour party members, union members, MPs and MEPs.
International development secretary Hilary Benn, Labour chairwoman Hazel Blears, backbencher Jon Cruddas, Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain and education secretary Alan Johnson were the other candidates for the post.
Ms Harman received 50.4 per cent of the vote while Mr Johnson got 49.6 per cent after all the other contestants' second preferences were reallocated.
Afterwards, in a short introduction before Mr Brown took to the stage, Mr Blair said his successor was a "man with every quality to mark him out as great prime minister for this country".
"He will give of his best in the service of our country, and I know that his best is as good as it gets," Mr Blair added.
Taking to the stage Mr Brown, now the leader of the Labour party, began by saying he would "endeavour to justify every day and in every act the trust that you have placed in me".
The Labour leader went on to praise the record and contribution of his predecessor, as well as those of former party helmsman Neil Kinnock and departing deputy leader John Prescott, both of whom were in attendance.
Beginning his first speech as Labour leader in earnest, Mr Brown said that Britain could only meet the challenges of 2007 and beyond if it engaged "people in the decisions that matter to their lives".
Although he praised new Labour's record on social justice, he acknowledged that lessons had to be learned on certain areas of reform.
"Success depends on having the strength to take the long-term course, and the strength to see it through," he elaborated.
Mr Brown, who will become prime minister on Wednesday when Mr Blair leaves No 10 Downing Street, said that affordable housing would become a "priority" under his premiership, drawing rousing cheers from party activists.
On education he claimed that investment in state schools would be on par with that in private schools within the next five years, revealing his intention to link businesses, schools and colleges together to achieve a "truly world class" education system.
He went on to pledge to eradicate child poverty in Britain in his generation and claimed that Labour, the party that created the NHS, would now be the party that "renewed" the health service.
Mr Brown also claimed that the UK would become a "world leader in tackling climate change".
On global security, he admitted that "lessons need to be learned" with reference to the continuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, acknowledging that the decision to go to war in the Middle East had been "divisive" for both the country and party.
Most tellingly, Mr Brown confirmed that in the future, the decision on whether the country went to war would ultimately be decided by parliament.
Before leaving the rostrum to applause he finished: "The government I lead belongs to you. I will work hard for you. I will try my utmost. I am ready, I am ready to serve."
After a marathon seven-week contest, Ms Harman, who will also become party chair in a move announced by Mr Brown, will replace Mr Prescott who resigns as deputy party leader.
But unlike Mr Prescott, Ms Harman is not guaranteed to become deputy prime minister. Gordon Brown announces his new cabinet on Thursday with Jack Straw, the Commons leader, favourite for the deputy's position.
Earlier Mr Prescott said his successor should not focus on holding a cabinet job.
"I think we took our eye off the ball to a certain extent about the politics of organisation being as important as politics of ideas and policy," Mr Prescott told the BBC.
"Let us get on with the organisation, strengthening the party, bringing back enthusiasm into it, these are essential to win the next election."
Today's leadership conference comes as a newspaper poll places Labour ahead of the Conservatives for the first time in 2007.
The Observer survey gives Labour an approval rating of 39 per cent, up four on last month, while the Tories have dropped by one point to 36 per cent.
According to the Ipsos Mori poll Labour's gains are largely down to drooping support for the Liberal Democrats, whose rating has fallen three points to 15 per cent.
And in further good news for the new Labour leader, 40 per cent of people said they thought Mr Brown would make a good prime minister, compared to 22 per cent and five per cent respectively for Tory leader David Cameron and Lib Dem helmsman Sir Menzies Campbell.