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Harman wins deputy leader contest | Harman wins deputy leader contest |
(about 1 hour 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. |
She will also become party chairwoman, Gordon Brown announced as he succeeded Tony Blair as Labour Party leader. | She will also become party chairwoman, Gordon Brown announced as he succeeded Tony Blair as Labour Party leader. |
Mr Brown, who takes over as prime minister on Wednesday, paid tribute to Ms Harman as he accepted the leadership unopposed. | Mr Brown, who takes over as prime minister on Wednesday, paid tribute to Ms Harman as he accepted the leadership unopposed. |
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 Analysis: Impact of result | 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 Analysis: Impact of result |
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. | 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 the fifth choice of union members. | In the first round she was first choice among Labour Party members, second choice among MPs and MEPS, but the fifth choice of union members. |
Ms Harman did not take the lead or pass the 50% mark until the fifth round of voting when she overtook Mr Johnson, as more of Jon Cruddas's backers put her down as their second choice. | Ms Harman did not take the lead or pass the 50% mark until the fifth round of voting when she overtook Mr Johnson, as more of Jon Cruddas's backers put her down as their second choice. |
Political comeback | Political comeback |
She told the BBC: "It was a close race, but I'm delighted to have won it." | She told the BBC: "It was a close race, but I'm delighted to have won it." |
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. |
I think there was a big view in the party that it needed to be a woman Alan Johnson Brown becomes leader In full: Harman speech | I think there was a big view in the party that it needed to be a woman Alan Johnson Brown becomes leader In full: Harman speech |
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. | She told the conference it was an "honour and a privilege" to be elected and to serve alongside Mr Brown. |
Prescott tributes | Prescott tributes |
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. | 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. |
CONTENDER QUESTIONNAIRE Age: 56Family: Married, three childrenSchool: St Paul's Girls School, LondonUniversity: YorkPolitical hero: Rosa ParksGood night out/in: Get together with the family, with me cookingHobbies: Cooking, family get-togethersFavourite book: We Need To Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver Best thing on TV: 24Bad habits: Watching the news too muchSomething we don't know about you: After 25 years in politics there is very little | |
She also told the conference the government should acknowledge the anger felt over Iraq, but at the same time support British troops. | She also told the conference the government should acknowledge the anger felt over Iraq, but at the same time support British troops. |
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. | 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. |
And she added: "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." | And she added: "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." |
Later she told the BBC that the victory had meant a "great deal" to her, adding: "I always thought that the right leadership team for the Labour Party was one that encompassed the north and south, that was the balanced team of a man and woman working together." | Later she told the BBC that the victory had meant a "great deal" to her, adding: "I always thought that the right leadership team for the Labour Party was one that encompassed the north and south, that was the balanced team of a man and woman working together." |
During the deputy leadership campaign she had called for an end to the "culture of spin". | During the deputy leadership campaign she had called for an end to the "culture of spin". |
'New leaf' | 'New leaf' |
On Sunday she reiterated calls to make announcements to Parliament first, adding: "I think it is really important that we turn over a new leaf now." | On Sunday she reiterated calls to make announcements to Parliament first, adding: "I think it is really important that we turn over a new leaf now." |
Mr Johnson, who came a close second, told the BBC he was not disappointed for himself, but was disappointed for his campaign team. | Mr Johnson, who came a close second, told the BBC he was not disappointed for himself, but was disappointed for his campaign team. |
He said Ms Harman would be a "very good deputy leader" adding: "I think there was a big view in the party that it needed to be a woman." | He said Ms Harman would be a "very good deputy leader" adding: "I think there was a big view in the party that it needed to be a woman." |
Education Secretary Mr Johnson came a close second | Education Secretary Mr Johnson came a close second |
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. |
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. |