Usdaw endorses Gordon Brown for Labour Leader and nominates Hazel Blears to be his Deputy

Retail union Usdaw's Executive Council has endorsed Gordon Brown to be Labour's next Leader and nominated Salford MP Hazel Blears to be his Deputy.

"There is no doubt that Gordon Brown has been Labour's greatest ever Chancellor and we have no doubt he will prove to be an outstanding Prime Minister," says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. "Our Executive Council unanimously agreed to endorse the decision of the Parliamentary Labour Party to nominate Gordon as Labour's next leader as his brilliant management of the economy and undoubted leadership skills stand in direct contrast to the lightweight David Cameron.

"Usdaw members recognise that Gordon Brown has created unprecedented economic stability over the last decade which has meant our members have enjoyed significant increases to the National Minimum Wage and boosts to their income through tax incentives like Family Tax Credits.

"Gordon Brown is the right choice to build on Labour's achievements since 1997 continuing to build a prosperous Britain and secure a fourth term Labour Government which is exactly why we are endorsing him as Labour's leader.

"We are also backing Usdaw member Hazel Blears as our candidate for Labour's Deputy Leader because we believe that she has exactly the right blend of energy, commitment and experience to make sure the party's manifesto commitments are delivered.

"Hazel has proved to be an outstanding constituency MP in Salford helping revitalise a socially deprived area and her work in Cabinet as Labour Party Chair has helped introduced family friendly measures like significantly increased maternity rights and the right to request flexible working that have directly benefited our members.

"There is a very strong field of candidates for Deputy Leader but Usdaw believes Hazel's down-to-earth style coupled with her great experience at the heart of Government will ensure Labour continues to deliver policies that directly benefit our members."

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw's Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union, with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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