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25 September 2010updated 27 Sep 2015 2:12am

Live blog: Labour leadership

Minute-by-minute coverage as the new Labour leader is announced.

By George Eaton

16:05 The delegates are being played a video (soundtrack: Bloc Party’s “So Here We Are”) before Labour’s general secretary, Ray Collins, arrives to announce the result.

16:10 Ray Collins has taken to the stage, praising a “long and inspiring contest”.

16:14 He is introducing Gordon Brown, who will make a rare speech shortly, to applause from the audience. He praises Brown for reducing poverty at home and abroad and for preventing a “second Great Depression”.

16:18 Gordon Brown, along with his wife, Sarah, takes to the stage to the strains of James Brown’s “Soulman”.

16:19 Brown says he has come here to thank the party he has always served and will serve “for all his life”. He praises Harriet Harman, who steps down as acting leader today, as a “tireless champion of equality”.

16:21 Brown is on strong form. Among friends and freed of the burden of office, his voice soars as it did during his Citizens UK address.

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16:23 There’s praise for Brown’s predecessors. John Smith, for committing the party to a national minimum wage; Neil Kinnock, for his socialist values; and Tony Blair for peace in Northern Ireland.

16:27 Brown says that Labour is now “the only progressive party” Britain has, to loud applause from the crowd.

16:29 He’s really enjoying this. He calls for “markets with morals” and hails Labour as the “greatest fighting force for fairness this country has ever seen”.

16:30 Brown leaves the stage to a standing ovation.

16:32 We’re due to hear from Harriet Harman in the next few minutes. But first Ray Collins introduces (another) video.

16:35 Harman, widely thought to have done a fine job as acting leader, is speaking now.

16:41 Harman hands over to Ann Black, the chair of the party’s NEC, who introduces the candidates.

16:43 David comes out smiling but Ed looks nervous. Is this a clue?

16:45 Here come the first-round results.

First round

Diane Abbott: 7.4%, Ed Balls: 11.8%. Andy Burnham: 8.7%. David Miliband: 37.8%. Ed Miliband: 34.3%.

Abbot is eliminated.

Second round

Balls: 13.2%, Burnham: 10.4%, D Miliband: 38.9%, E Miliband: 37.5%.

Burnham is out.

Third round

Balls: 16%, D Miliband: 42.7%, E Miliband 41.3%.

Fourth round

It’s over. Ed Miliband is elected Labour leader with 50.6% of the vote. He’s speaking now.

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