MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brown finally crowned Labour leader

Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP

Gordon Brown is finally to be crowned Labour leader - taking over from Tony Blair after a 13-year wait.

But the Chancellor will still have to bide his time until Wednesday afternoon to become Prime Minister after Mr Blair's exit from Number 10. A special Labour leadership conference in Manchester will endorse the unchallenged Mr Brown and elect a deputy from a raft of six hopefuls. Cabinet members Hilary Benn, Alan Johnson, Hazel Blears and Peter Hain are battling with justice minister Harriet Harman and left-wing backbencher Jon Cruddas for the number two job - which will not necessarily carry the title Deputy Prime Minister vacated by John Prescott. The winner will make a victory speech before Mr Brown is declared elected unopposed as Mr Blair's successor. The Prime Minister - fresh from an EU summit and a visit to the Vatican - and his deputy will be in the audience at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, but will take no part in proceedings. Mr Brown will then spell out his vision for a Labour government which could stay in office until 2010, by which time he has to call a General Election. He is expected to tell the conference he wants a dynamic and new direction for Government, while paying copious tribute to his predecessor. The Chancellor has insisted he will press on with efforts to create a Government "of all the talents" - despite apparent snubs from two high-profile recruits. Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown turned down the chance to become Northern Ireland Secretary, while ex-Met commissioner Lord Stevens refused an offer of a junior ministerial post.