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Labour must have soul, says Brown Labour must have soul, says Brown
(about 1 hour later)
Tony Blair has handed the leadership of the Labour Party to Gordon Brown at a special conference in Manchester. Gordon Brown has been crowned Labour leader, promising to give the party not just policies but "a soul".
Mr Blair said his long-time chancellor had "all the qualities to mark him out as a great prime minister". Tony Blair said his longtime chancellor had "all the qualities to mark him out as a great prime minister".
Mr Brown, who becomes prime minister on Wednesday, praised Mr Blair and said: "The party I lead must have more than a set of policies, we must have a soul." Mr Brown, who becomes prime minister on Wednesday, praised Mr Blair but said he wanted to "change" the party to meet voters' changing aspirations.
It follows Harriet Harman's narrow win in the six-way race to succeed John Prescott as deputy Labour leader.It follows Harriet Harman's narrow win in the six-way race to succeed John Prescott as deputy Labour leader.
DEPUTY LEADER RESULT 1. Harman: 50.4%2. Johnson: 49.6% 3. Cruddas: Out4. Benn: Out5. Hain: Out6. Blears: Out The final result comes after eliminated contestants' second preferences reallocated Profile: Harriet Harman DEPUTY LEADER RESULT 1. Harman: 50.4%2. Johnson: 49.6% 3. Cruddas: Out4. Benn: Out5. Hain: Out6. Blears: Out The final result comes after eliminated contestants' second preferences reallocated Profile: Harriet Harman class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6235142.stm">Analysis: What result means
Mr Brown told Labour activists: "It is with humility, pride and a great sense of duty that I accept the privilege and the great responsibility of leading our party and changing our country." She pipped Education Secretary Alan Johnson by 50.4% to 49.6% in the fifth round of voting after the other four contenders' second preference votes were reallocated.
Mr Brown said from now on the party's deputy leader would also be its chairman and he pledged to give party members more of a say in policy, with "one member one vote" over its programme for government.
He also announced the appointment Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander as general election coordinator, "so that we are ready not just to fight but to win a general election".
Brown's 'immediate priority'
Mr Brown, who was introduced to Labour activists at a special conference in Manchester by Tony Blair, told Labour activists: "It is with humility, pride and a great sense of duty that I accept the privilege and the great responsibility of leading our party and changing our country."
He personally thanked Tony Blair who he said had "made Britain stronger, more tolerant, prosperous and it has made Britain fairer".He personally thanked Tony Blair who he said had "made Britain stronger, more tolerant, prosperous and it has made Britain fairer".
He also praised John Prescott and former leader Neil Kinnock for leading the party "out of the wilderness". Gordon has been able to relax and move away from the bank manager role Jack StrawCommons leader and Brown campaign chief class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6234692.stm">Harman wins deputy contest
He described Britain as a "country of rising aspiration," saying voters had told him they wanted a "higher class" of public services "tailored to individual needs". He singled out education and the crisis in affordable housing as two of his key priorities - but he said improving the NHS was his "immediate priority".
But he told activists: "The party I lead must have more than a set of policies, we must have a soul." He also pledged to eradicate child poverty and "hand more to people" through constitutional reform.
Victory speech He described Britain as a "country of rising aspiration", saying voters had told him they wanted a "higher class" of public services "tailored to individual needs".
He pledged not to return Labour to the past - and said he wanted make education and tackling the housing crisis his top priority. But he added: "The party I lead must have more than a set of policies - we must have a soul.
Justice minister Harriet Harman beat favourite Alan Johnson to win the contest by the narrowest of margins. "Wherever we find opportunity denied, aspirations unfulfilled, potential unrealised; wherever and whenever we find injustice and unfairness, there we must be also - and it is our duty to act."
In recent interviews Mr Brown insisted he would press on with efforts to create a Cabinet "of all the talents" - despite apparent snubs from two non-Labour recruits. Opinion poll
He also said he had learned his lesson about "top-down" government and has pledged to involve ordinary people in his decisions. Mr Brown's campaign manager Jack Straw said the speech would "inspire confidence and trust that this is a man to lead the nation not only up to the next election but well beyond".
He told BBC News the public needed to be fully involved if big challenges like climate change were to be tackled. He said Mr Brown had been able to "relax and move away from the bank manager role" during the past six weeks as he has toured the country.
Blair presence As the chancellor starts his new job as party leader, and prepares to become prime minister on Wednesday, an Ipsos/Mori opinion poll in the Observer suggested Labour had risen 4% to 39% over the past month and that Conservatives had slipped a point to 36%.
A poll for the Observer has given Labour a clear lead over the Tories, the first time the party has been put ahead of the Conservatives for eight months.
The BBC understands Mr Brown will promise Labour members a much greater say - and votes - on the development of party policy.
Mr Brown set out his plans at a meeting of the party's ruling National Executive Committee on Sunday morning.
Mr Blair - who has just returned from an EU summit and a visit to the Vatican - and Mr Prescott are expected to be in the audience at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.
As the chancellor prepares for his new role, research by Ipsos/Mori in the Observer suggested Labour had surged 4% to 39% over the past month and that Conservatives had slipped a point to 36%.
Liberal Democrat support fell from 18% to 15%, the poll suggested.Liberal Democrat support fell from 18% to 15%, the poll suggested.
Some 1,970 UK adults were interviewed for the party share poll.Some 1,970 UK adults were interviewed for the party share poll.