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Harman wins deputy leader contest | Harman wins deputy leader contest |
(20 minutes later) | |
Harriet Harman is the new deputy leader of the Labour Party, after a seven-week contest to replace John Prescott. | Harriet Harman is the new deputy leader of the Labour Party, after a seven-week contest to replace John Prescott. |
The justice minister beat off favourite Alan Johnson and four other MPs to win the ballot of party and union members, MPs and MEPs. | |
Mr Prescott steps down alongside party leader, and prime minister, Tony Blair. | Mr Prescott steps down alongside party leader, and prime minister, Tony Blair. |
Gordon Brown will be confirmed as Mr Blair's successor as Labour leader shortly, and will taken over from him as prime minister on Wednesday. | |
Ms Harman, the wife of senior Transport and General Workers' Union official - and Labour Party treasurer - Jack Dromey, has close links to Mr Brown. | |
Her election completes a remarkable comeback from 1998 when she was sacked from Mr Blair's first Cabinet after public disputes with her minister Frank Field. | |
Despite that setback she managed to return to the Labour frontbench in 2001 when she became the first female solicitor general. | |
During the deputy leadership campaign she expressed regret at voting for the Iraq war and has called for a United Nations Security Council Resolution against the US government over Guantanamo Bay. | |
She also campaigned on equal pay for men and women and called for an end to the "culture of spin". | |
Earlier Mr Prescott, who has been both deputy leader and deputy prime minister, said his successor should concentrate on revitalising the party - not on holding a Cabinet post. | Earlier Mr Prescott, who has been both deputy leader and deputy prime minister, said his successor should concentrate on revitalising the party - not on holding a Cabinet post. |
'Strengthening enthusiasm' | 'Strengthening enthusiasm' |
"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," he told the BBC. | "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," he 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. | "Let us get on with the organisation, strengthening the party, bringing back enthusiasm into it, these are essential to win the next election. |
It is seen as unlikely that the two roles would be combined again. | It is seen as unlikely that the two roles would be combined again. |
Indications are that Commons leader Jack Straw - who has run Mr Brown's leadership campaign - would get some of the responsibilities of the deputy prime minister's job, but there would not be a deputy PM. | Indications are that Commons leader Jack Straw - who has run Mr Brown's leadership campaign - would get some of the responsibilities of the deputy prime minister's job, but there would not be a deputy PM. |
While Mr Brown was the sole contender to replace Mr Blair, there was a more crowded field for the position of deputy leader. | While Mr Brown was the sole contender to replace Mr Blair, there was a more crowded field for the position of deputy leader. |
International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, Labour chairwoman Hazel Blears, backbencher Jon Cruddas, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and Education Secretary Alan Johnson all took part in the contest. | International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, Labour chairwoman Hazel Blears, backbencher Jon Cruddas, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and Education Secretary Alan Johnson all took part in the contest. |