Harriet Harman is expected to say Labour must have a “laser focus on the future”
Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman will bring the party conference to a close when she delivers the final address to delegates.
Ms Harman is expected to speak about an “historic conference” which has been a “rollercoaster of emotions”.
It has seen the appointment of a new leader in Ed Miliband, and also the resignation of his elder brother David from front-line politics.
David Miliband lost the leadership election by just over 1% on Saturday.
He ended days of speculation when he announced on Wednesday that he would not serve in Ed’s shadow cabinet.
The former foreign secretary, who had been the long-time favourite to succeed Gordon Brown, said he would stay on as an MP and continue to serve the party.
During her closing speech, which is traditionally a light-hearted affair, Ms Harman is expected to say while the party is “disappointed” to be in opposition, it must have a “laser focus on the future”.
She will tell delegates in Manchester that Labour is “sobered by the scale of the challenge that lies ahead” but fortified by the determination of the new leader.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Channel 4 News, Ed Miliband gave his strongest signal yet that he would put up taxes in order to protect public services from spending cuts.
Mr Miliband said he would raise taxes – by more than former chancellor Alistair Darling had planned in the previous Labour government – to help pay off Britain’s deficit.
“We should look to do more from taxation. For example, taking more from banks or tackling tax avoidance,” he said.
“If we can protect ordinary families with higher taxes on banks, of course we should.”
Some 49 Labour MPs have put their names forward for the shadow cabinet elections. The candidates, including a host of former ministers and several without ministerial experience, are competing for 19 seats around the table.
Rosie Winterton was elected unopposed as opposition chief whip after Mr Miliband asked incumbent Nick Brown – a close ally of former prime minister Gordon Brown – not to stand.
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