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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Brown aim 'to reduce union power' | Brown aim 'to reduce union power' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| New Labour leader Gordon Brown wants to reduce the influence of trade unions within the party, the BBC has learned. | New Labour leader Gordon Brown wants to reduce the influence of trade unions within the party, the BBC has learned. |
| His proposals would stop unions shaping policy at Labour's annual conference and give individual members more say. | His proposals would stop unions shaping policy at Labour's annual conference and give individual members more say. |
| He has recommended to Labour's National Executive that union-backed motions be replaced by debates on general issues, says BBC correspondent James Hardy. | He has recommended to Labour's National Executive that union-backed motions be replaced by debates on general issues, says BBC correspondent James Hardy. |
| Mr Brown formally took over the party on Sunday, with Harriet Harman winning a tight race to be deputy leader. | Mr Brown formally took over the party on Sunday, with Harriet Harman winning a tight race to be deputy leader. |
| In his acceptance speech on becoming leader, Mr Brown promised to give the party not just policies but "a soul". | In his acceptance speech on becoming leader, Mr Brown promised to give the party not just policies but "a soul". |
| 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' next preferences reallocated Profile: Harriet Harman Analysis: What result means | 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' next preferences reallocated Profile: Harriet Harman Analysis: What result means |
| He praised Tony Blair and pledged to "renew" the party to meet voters' changing aspirations. | He praised Tony Blair and pledged to "renew" the party to meet voters' changing aspirations. |
| Political correspondent James Hardy said that, although Mr Brown spent "barely 30 seconds in a 30 minutes speech" on party democracy, behind the scenes he has been planning "controversial changes". | Political correspondent James Hardy said that, although Mr Brown spent "barely 30 seconds in a 30 minutes speech" on party democracy, behind the scenes he has been planning "controversial changes". |
| Mr Brown pledged to give party members the final say on Labour's policy programme through a "one member one vote" system. | Mr Brown pledged to give party members the final say on Labour's policy programme through a "one member one vote" system. |
| In effect that means ending the conference's role as Labour's sovereign policy-making body and greatly increasing the part played by individual members. | In effect that means ending the conference's role as Labour's sovereign policy-making body and greatly increasing the part played by individual members. |
| Iraq lessons 'to be learned' | Iraq lessons 'to be learned' |
| Mr Brown was introduced to Labour activists at a special conference in Manchester on Sunday by Tony Blair, who described him as a "friend for over 20 years and from today the leader of our party, very soon to be the leader of our country". | Mr Brown was introduced to Labour activists at a special conference in Manchester on Sunday by Tony Blair, who described him as a "friend for over 20 years and from today the leader of our party, very soon to be the leader of our country". |
| Mr Brown singled out education and the crisis in affordable housing as two of his top priorities, promising more social housing and help for people to get on the property ladder. | Mr Brown singled out education and the crisis in affordable housing as two of his top priorities, promising more social housing and help for people to get on the property ladder. |
| I shall always try my utmost. I am ready to serve Gordon Brown Labour Party leader Brown speech: key points Send us your comments | I shall always try my utmost. I am ready to serve Gordon Brown Labour Party leader Brown speech: key points Send us your comments |
| But he said the NHS was his "immediate priority," adding he wanted to discuss "a new settlement for a modern NHS" with more power in the hands of patients and staff. | But he said the NHS was his "immediate priority," adding he wanted to discuss "a new settlement for a modern NHS" with more power in the hands of patients and staff. |
| On foreign affairs, he acknowledged Iraq had been "a divisive issue for our party and our country" and he pledged to " learn lessons that need to be learned". | On foreign affairs, he acknowledged Iraq had been "a divisive issue for our party and our country" and he pledged to " learn lessons that need to be learned". |
| He said that Harriet Harman, who pipped Alan Johnson to win the six-way race to succeed John Prescott as deputy Labour leader, would be Labour Party chairwoman. | He said that Harriet Harman, who pipped Alan Johnson to win the six-way race to succeed John Prescott as deputy Labour leader, would be Labour Party chairwoman. |
| Snap election | Snap election |
| And he sparked speculation that he might call a General Election next year, rather than waiting until 2009 or 2010, by announcing he had appointed Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander as the party's general election co-ordinator. | And he sparked speculation that he might call a General Election next year, rather than waiting until 2009 or 2010, by announcing he had appointed Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander as the party's general election co-ordinator. |
| Former Labour Party treasurer Baroness Prosser told the BBC: "I don't think a snap election is on the cards at all." | |
| She said she understood that the party finances were "in a pretty dire state". | |
| Although she expected more money to start coming in once Mr Brown was prime minister, she said it would "take time to build up the infrastructure of the party". | |
| She also said proposals to reduce union influence at the party conference had been "on the cards for a while", but had been brought into "sharp focus" by the merger of the T&G and Amicus unions. | |
| Asked about a possible snap election, Ms Harman told the BBC it was "pure speculation" and a matter for Mr Brown to decide. | |
| Ms Harman becomes deputy leader and party chairwoman | Ms Harman becomes deputy leader and party chairwoman |
| An early election would suit Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell who says Mr Brown should call one as: "Neither Labour members nor the British public have chosen the new prime minister." | An early election would suit Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell who says Mr Brown should call one as: "Neither Labour members nor the British public have chosen the new prime minister." |
| The Conservatives have also said Mr Brown needs to call an election to get a mandate to govern. | The Conservatives have also said Mr Brown needs to call an election to get a mandate to govern. |
| Both parties have said they are prepared in case Mr Brown decided to call a snap election after taking over as prime minister. | Both parties have said they are prepared in case Mr Brown decided to call a snap election after taking over as prime minister. |
| Tory leader David Cameron told the BBC he was providing "an exciting and inspiring alternative to a government that I believe has failed, and that's what I am going to focus on: a relentlessly-positive agenda". | Tory leader David Cameron told the BBC he was providing "an exciting and inspiring alternative to a government that I believe has failed, and that's what I am going to focus on: a relentlessly-positive agenda". |
| Have you met Gordon Brown on the campaign trail or elsewhere? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Have you met Gordon Brown on the campaign trail or elsewhere? Send us your experiences using the form below. |