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Blind leading the blind! Labour inquiry into Corbyn meltdown to be led by ED MILIBAND


The review, which has been set up by Labour Together, will include interviewing all 59 MPs who lost their seats during the crumbling of Labour’s “red wall” of constituencies in the North, the Midlands and Wales. It aims to identify the true cause of the party’s worst result since 1935. Outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn has faced further criticism after he only wrote a generic letter thanking those who were ousted last week.

As well as Mr Miliband, who led the party to its own humbling 2015 defeat, former shadow education secretary Lucy Powell and Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood will spearhead the review.

Ms Powell said the inquiry would take a “real and meaningful look” at why the party had “fallen short” at four consecutive elections.

The Manchester Central MP said: “We have lost the last four elections and we all have to accept that our offers to the country have been insufficient.

“We should have taken the time to understand our losses previously. It’s now profoundly important for the future of our Party and country that we take a real and meaningful look at why we have fallen short.

ed Miliband will head up a review of Labour's disastrous election result

ed Miliband will head up a review of Labour’s disastrous election result (Image: GETTY)

“This inquiry gives us the opportunity to listen to members, candidates and the public and I hope our whole movement takes it in the spirit it is offered and takes part.”

Other confirmed commissioners include Jo Platt, the former MP for Leigh who one of the lost seats from Labour’s heartlands in Greater Manchester.

Sienna Rodgers, editor of Labourlist website, and James Meadway, former economic adviser to shadow chancellor John McDonnell, will also be part of the enquiry.

A trade union representative, as well as a local organiser, is also expected to join the panel.

READ MORE: Former Labour MP Pidcock savaged by her own party as she blames Blair

Ed Miliband failed to win the 2015 election as Labour leader

Ed Miliband failed to win the 2015 election as Labour leader (Image: GETTY)

The commission, according to a spokesman, will be made up of voices from “different Labour traditions” and aims to “raise above the factional infighting which has coloured much of Labour politics for the last four years”.

It hopes to capitalise on the “millions of conversations” voters had with Labour campaigners in a bid to come up with a plan for Labour’s return to Downing Street.

Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell both said they took responsibility for the defeat in the wake of an election that handed the Conservatives an 80-seat majority.

However, they have defended their policies and pointed to Brexit polarising the country.

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Labour's manifesto did not win over voters

Labour’s manifesto did not win over voters (Image: EXPRESS)

The defeat prompted a bitter internal row about the party’s Brexit stance.

The party last won an election in 2005 under the leadership of former prime minister Tony Blair.

The former leader of 13 years told an audience in London that the “takeover of the Labour Party by the far-left” had “turned it into a glorified protest movement, with cult trimmings, utterly incapable of being a credible government”.

In response, Laura Pidcock, who lost her North West Durham seat at the election, tweeted that the legacy of New Labour and Tony Blair “still hangs around this party like a millstone”.

Labour saw its worst defeat since 1935

Labour saw its worst defeat since 1935 (Image: GETTY)

She said: “Vital to learn the lessons of Labour’s defeat.

“However, the answers will not be found at the door of New Labour’s architects.

“Blair’s legacy still hangs around this party like a millstone, especially in the North East. I heard it time and time again.”

Ms Rodgers, of Labourlist, said the review would pore over the results in “an even-handed way, which doesn’t start with blaming one faction, or individual”.



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