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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Harman wins deputy leader contest | Harman wins deputy leader contest |
| (30 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 56-year-old justice minister pipped favourite Alan Johnson and four other MPs to win the ballot of party and union members, Labour MPs and MEPs. | The 56-year-old justice minister pipped favourite Alan Johnson and four other MPs to win the ballot of party and union members, Labour MPs and MEPs. |
| She got 50.4% of votes to Mr Johnson's 49.6% after all the other contestants' second preferences were reallocated. | She got 50.4% of votes to Mr Johnson's 49.6% after all the other contestants' second preferences were reallocated. |
| Gordon Brown has also been confirmed as Tony Blair's successor as leader. He takes over as PM on Wednesday. | |
| 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 | |
| The deputy contest used a complicated system where the last place candidate was eliminated in a series of rounds, and their second preferences reallocated until one contender got more than 50% of the vote. | |
| In the first round she was first choice among Labour Party members, second choice among MPs and MEPS, but fifth choice of union members. | |
| The closeness of the contest meant that Ms Harman did not take the lead or pass the 50% mark until the fifth round of voting. | |
| She only overtook Mr Johnson in the fifth round, as more of Jon Cruddas's backers put her down as their second choice than put Mr Johnson down. | |
| Ms Harman, the wife of senior Transport and General Workers' Union official - and Labour Party treasurer - Jack Dromey, has close links to Mr Brown. | Ms Harman, the wife of senior Transport and General Workers' Union official - and Labour Party treasurer - Jack Dromey, has close links to Mr Brown. |
| Political comeback | |
| 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. | 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. | Despite that setback she managed to return to the Labour frontbench in 2001 when she became the first female solicitor general. |
| She told the conference it was an "honour and a privilege" to be elected and to serve alongside Mr Brown. | |
| Labour is and must remain the party of the family. I have always tried to be a champion for women and as deputy leader that is what I will do Harriet Harman Brown becomes leader | |
| Ms Harman talked about the achievements of the Labour government over 10 years, paid tribute to Mr Blair and her predecessor Mr Prescott, who she said would be a "very difficult act to follow" and thanked her fellow contenders. | |
| She also told the conference the government should acknowledge the anger felt over Iraq, but at the same time support British troops as they tried to protect Iraq's "fragile democracy". | |
| She pledged to be "relentlessly focused" on winning the next general election, by appealing to a broad base of voters, from Middle England to Labour's heartlands. | |
| 'Spin' culture | |
| "Labour is and must remain the party of the family. I have always tried to be a champion for women and as deputy leader that is what I will do," she said. | |
| She pledged to put families "at the heart of everything we do in government", to be a voice for the party and to "strive for justice and fairness. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Education Secretary Mr Johnson came a close second | |
| She also campaigned on equal pay for men and women and called for an end to the "culture of spin" - something she reiterated on Sunday. | |
| 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. |
| "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. |