Ed Miliband is now the Leader of the Labour Party.
His narrow victory over brother David has surprised many people. I did think some time ago that he might edge it, but was convinced as the results were about to be announced that David had won.
David has done the right thing in not standing for the shadow cabinet. Had he stayed there, the press and media would have scrutinised his every move and word. Labour would have not been able to get on with the business of opposing this coalition and ensuring that Labour is returned to power in 2015.
However, it is not lost on me that perhaps it might have been better for David to leave Parliament altogether.
His spat with Harriet Harman following Ed's comments during his speech condemning Blair's invasion of Iraq was clear for all to see. Moreover, The headlines of 'back-seat driver' and 'David Carps From the Sidelines' could still appear in future, knowing just how keen the Tory press are turn politics into a soap-opera.
You could be forgiven for thinking that there were just two candidates in the recent Labour Leadership contest, rather than five.
Nevertheless, Ed's main speech to the Labour Conference was very impressive. He did very well in countering the charge by the Tories and their friends in the Daily Mail that he was wholly the choice of the Trade Unions.
Such hysterial headlines calling him 'Red Ed' because he received more votes from individual Trade Union members than his brother did totally ignore the fact that only a very small percentage of them actually voted. I was impressed with his plea to the media to engage in a more mature discussion about the issues that really matter to people.
Whilst the speech was by comparison with previous leaders' addresses, quite long, lasting an hour, I thought it was important that Ed introduced himself to the voters, having only had a very junior cabinet post in the previous Labour Government.
So what now for Labour?
The overwhelming feeling from attending their Party Conference in Manchester is, that, yes, it is disappointing to be back in Opposition after 13 years of power. However, as Harriet Harman said in her address to Delagates, Labour is 'fortified' and united in the belief that the focus should be on fighting the spending cuts of the coalition and not turning on each other. Those members who can remember 18 long years of opposition before Blair's stunning victory in 1997, will not want Labour to stay out of power for too long.
Labour needs to focus on the fact that, despite all the work David Cameron did to change the Tory Party since becoming their leader, he was unable to win a majority for them.
That says a lot.
Ed Miiband has the youth, energy and charisma to inspire people. I have seen him on the hustings during the leadership campaign and he has the ability to win back the millions of voters Labour has lost since 1997.
Labour have elected someone who, I believe, has the nous to wrong-foot Cameron at PMQs.
And as for the Liberal Democrats, they may be enjoying a taste of power for the first time in nearly seventy years, but they know they are the junior partners in this coalition. Nick Clegg and his lackies have abandoned just about every principle they held just to be in government.
Their supporters did not vote for this and the Party will be punished for it. My guess is the Liberal Democrats are now finished for a generation. Those voters who backed Nick Clegg's opposition to immediate cuts in public spending during the election campaign will undoubtedly come over to Labour, who is now the only main party on the side of the poorest in our society, as they are the ones who will be hit hardest by these cuts.
As long as Labour remains united and keeps their nerve, they should only have to endure a short spell in opposition. Come October 20 and the announcements of where the spending axe will fall, this ConDem Coalition will have an impossible task in recovering their popularity in time to prevent Labour from returning to power in 2015.
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