IAN McCartney increased Labour's majority to a whopping 26,000 at Makerfield - but he won't be asking Tony Blair for a job.
The former Wigan councillor has held key roles in health and employment while in opposition but he will wait to see what is in store for him on his return to the Commons.
Mr McCartney, 46, said: "I've never asked for a job and I won't start now. What I do is up to the Prime Minister."
In a turnout of slightly more than 66pc he attracted more than 73pc of the vote.
Conservative Michael Winstanley held on to second place from the Liberal Democrats' Bruce Hubbard but the Tory vote was down by almost 8,000. MAKERFIELD Ian McCartney (Lab) 33,119
Michael Winstanley (Con) 6,942
Bruce Hubbard (Lib Dem) 3,743
Andrew Seed (Ref) 1,210
LABOUR HOLD. Majority: 26,177
Percentage Poll: 66pc
Swing: 9.62pc
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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