New leader says New Labour era is over

ED MILIBAND declared the New Labour era over, but insisted the party would not embark on a “lurch to the left” under his leadership.

Miliband was cheered on to the stage as he made his first appearance at Labour’s annual conference in Manchester since defeating brother David by the narrowest of margins on Saturday in the race to succeed Gordon Brown.

In his first interview as leader, he sought to quash Conservative claims that he was the creature of the unions, whose votes were crucial in propelling him to victory, insisting: “I am my own man.”