Labour 'moving to left' with Harman win

HARRIET Harman was yesterday elected Labour's deputy leader in a surprising result that sparked Tory claims Labour is moving to the left.

Ms Harman, justice minister under Tony Blair, narrowly defeated Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary, winning by 50.43 per cent to his 49.56 per cent.

A veteran campaigner on women's issues, Ms Harman is the MP for Peckham in south London. In an emotional acceptance speech yesterday, she pledged to ensure Labour focuses on "middle England as well as our heartlands, the south as well as the north."

She raised eyebrows during her campaign by criticising some of Mr Blair's policies, calling for a government apology for the war in Iraq, and questioning the decision to renew the Trident nuclear arsenal.

Francis Maude, the Conservative chairman said: "Harriet Harman believes in more money for the unions and a review of Trident. The country will be interested in how the unelected Gordon Brown responds to the views of the newly elected deputy leader of the Labour Party."

Although he welcomed her victory, Mr Brown yesterday made clear Ms Harman will have limited influence over government policy. Instead of making her deputy prime minister, he appointed her Labour Party chairman, with a seat in Cabinet but no departmental responsibility.

Ms Harman said it was clear people joined Labour to have a say in politics and, in a swipe at Tony Blair's style of government, she added: "You want our plans to be debated and presented to parliament, not briefed and spun to the media. You want us to acknowledge the anger and division caused by Iraq, and we do."