I won't forget Yorkshire links vows Gaitskell's torch-bearer

While Mr Miliband takes up the job of turning Labour into a force to be reckoned with in 2015 he will be well aware that Gaitskell, MP for Leeds South, died in 1963 having spent eight years leading Labour in opposition.

In his acceptance speech on Saturday, he paid tribute to party activists and voters in South Yorkshire for giving him the opportunity to become an MP in 2005 when he was handed the safe Labour seat of Doncaster North.

"I will never forget who put me into parliament, and made it possible for me to run and win this job," he said.

During his campaign, he explained how constituency problems and concerns shaped his politics, citing the realisation that Labour had failed to take early enough action to tackle housing shortages.

But Doncaster is a long way from London's Primrose Hill where the new leader grew up as the son of Marxist Ralph Miliband, getting an early taste of Left-wing politics as he and brother David were encouraged to join the debate with dinner guests ranging from Ken Livingstone to Tariq Ali.

By then he had already had his first taste of Yorkshire, with the family having spent several years in Horsforth, Leeds. Ed admits that having left when he was only seven his memories are limited, although it made enough of an impact to turn him into a Leeds United supporter – albeit his appearances at matches are somewhat rare.

After studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University – the same course and at the same college as his older brother – he entered Labour politics, working first for Harriet Harman then joining Gordon Brown as an adviser at the Treasury.

As tensions raged in Downing Street, Mr Miliband was the one Brownite Tony Blair's camp was able to deal with, perhaps providing useful experience for his task in unifying the party now.

When the Doncaster North seat became available in 2005 after former MP Kevin Hughes – a former miner – stood down because of illness, Mr Miliband decided to run for it.

Backed by Unison, whose former leader Rodney Bickerstaffe grew up in Doncaster and campaigned for him, he saw off a challenge from Michael Dugher, another government adviser who had local roots.

Union support delivered some votes, but it was a dramatic off-the-cuff speech on the night the voting took place that sealed him victory.

In shirt sleeves and without notes, he gave a glimpse of the leader in waiting.

"Ed blew me away on the night – he was brilliant. It was a great credit to him," remembers Mr Dugher, who went on to work for Gordon Brown when he was Prime Minister and was elected MP for Barnsley East in May.

Having won the seat – with Mr Brown campaigning in the constituency during the election campaign – his first speech at party conference that year was hailed by some as the best of the week, and he was embarked on a fast track to stardom.

When Mr Brown became Prime Minister, he was rewarded with a cabinet seat, first as Cabinet Office Minister then becoming Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

But Mr Miliband's election agent rejects any suggestions that he is anything less than committed to his constituency – a gritty area world's apart from leafy Primrose Hill. "Anyone whose had any interaction with him during his time as an MP will tell you he's very keen and concerned to deliver for the constituency," said Mary Wimbury. "They'd say he's sorted this problem or that."

Although she watched the result at home on television, she spoke to Mr Miliband in the hours after the leadership announcement on Saturday afternoon.

"I've spoken to him very briefly and just said how delighted I was," she said. "He was in a very upbeat mood, but he knows he's got a big task ahead."

Now Mr Miliband, who is due to become a father for the second time in November, will seek to go one better than Mr Gaitskell and fellow Yorkshireman Harold Wilson – who never held a seat in the region despite his Huddersfield roots – into Downing Street.

ED MILIBAND FACTFILE

Age: 40

Childhood: London and Leeds

Family: Father Ralph was Marxist academic, older brother David became fellow Labour Party high-flyer

Education: North London comprehensive school, Oxford University, London School of Economics

Political background: Intern to Tony Benn, researcher to Harriet Harman, Treasury adviser to Gordon Brown Became MP in 2005.

Ministerial jobs: Cabinet Office Minister, Energy and Climate Change Secretary

Home Life: Lives with partner and young son. Expecting second child in November

Successes: Pushed key 2008 Energy Bill through Parliament

Failures: Unable to broker a climate change deal at 2009 Copenhagen summit