IPSWICH MP Chris Mole was today hoping for a return to the government ranks as Labour's new leadership team got down to business.The town's MP was a firm backer of successful deputy leadership candidate Harriet Harman and said the new top team had a great opportunity to take the country forward.

IPSWICH MP Chris Mole was today hoping for a return to the government ranks as Labour's new leadership team got down to business.

The town's MP was a firm backer of successful deputy leadership candidate Harriet Harman and said the new top team had a great opportunity to take the country forward.

He has not been promised a job in Mr Brown's first government, but has had informal talks with members of the Chancellor's team.

He said: “I have no idea whether I will be offered any position by Mr Brown, but I have spoken to members of his team although I have spent more time with Harriet's team over the last few weeks.

“I am very pleased at her success. I think she put a great deal of emphasis on the importance of maintaining strong links with the party.

“I supported her because of her emphasis on the importance of the family and on women's issues and I think she and Gordon will be a very strong team.”

During her campaign, Ms Harman said the government should acknowledge mistakes over Iraq and called for plans to replace Trident to be reconsidered.

Mr Mole said: “I certainly think Harriet was echoing what many people within the party feel about Iraq - that we need to look at what has happened there.

“But she made it clear that we have to support the fledgling democracy in that country and our troops that are doing an important job there.

“So far as Trident is concerned, we have agreed to build new submarines - but what she is saying is we should not at present make any promises to develop new warheads and that is a position which makes good sense.”

Mr Mole felt that in electing Ms Harman, party members were saying they wanted more say in government policy.

He said: “I do think that the party may be consulted more in the future when there are difficult issues to be decided.”

Mr Mole was parliamentary private secretary to local government minister Phil Wools until last September when he was forced to step down after signing a letter calling on Tony Blair to announce a date for his departure.