Former speaker Harry Jenkins issues warning to Labor in valedictory speech Harry Jenkins during his valedictory speech in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra. FORMER parliamentary speaker Harry Jenkins has issued a warning to his colleagues that they need to unite or face election wipe-out. In his final official speech to the parliament before retiring at the September election, Mr Jenkins paid tribute to all the leaders of the Labor Party since he entered federal politics in 1989 - including Julia Gillard or Kevin Rudd. He said unity was the key to Labor's success. "United we stand divided we fall," Mr Jenkins said. He said "nothing can be taken away" from Mr Rudd for winning the 2007 election and securing government for Labor but that Julia Gillard was a strong and determined leader. Mr Jenkins described Mark Latham as the "Lord Voldemort" of politics and remembered back to Bob Hawke's time in office and having cigar smoke blown all over him. "But I accepted that because I learned to respect my elders," he said. Mr Jenkins reflected on his exit from the Speaker's chair in 2011 to make way for the controversial MP Peter Slipper. "Don't mourn for me," he said. I accepted responsibility ... I signed the resignation letter.