Thread by @peterkyle

We lost badly to a thoroughly beatable Tory party.

Was it Brexit that did for us? 👇

Outriders in the media today act like Brexit is a natural disaster and Labour helpless bystanders caught in its path.

No!

Brexit is a political crisis that required a clear, strategic political response. Labour’s leadership and frontbench failed to provide it...

...it’s not by accident that Remainers think we’re a Leave party and Leavers think we’re a Remain party.

This didn’t happen by accident!

We were led to this place we didn’t wake up here!

Across the country dissatisfaction with our leadership and seeming incompetence were mentioned far, far more often by voters than Brexit.

This is true in both Remain and Leave seats.

So rather than blame Brexit, why not do the right thing and take ownership of this failure?

I believe Jeremy Corbyn should resign now for three reasons 👇

1. This was a defeat of titanic proportions, a scale not seen in our lifetimes.

It’s disrespectful to voters who sent such a strong message, activists who put so much work but were let down, and the MPs who lost their seats, for this to be shrugged off or delayed.

2. The messages sent by voters yesterday were the same as in 2017 but much louder.

The people who failed to listen in 2017, failed to deliver the changes demanded but instead gave more of what was rejected - are not the people who should be leading a ‘period of reflection’ now

3. In 5 months time we have local and London elections, including for London mayor.

Is there anyone on earth who thinks this election is a good springboard into those?

If we head into those elections with the same top team we’d be laughed out of town

Every MP elected has heard what voters have said and what is expected of us.

The simplest way to respond to public expectations is for the PLP to elect a new shadow cabinet and temporary leader to see us through the period of learning & reflection followed by leadership contest

This needs to be done respectfully.

The nastiness that has characterised internal party debate must end.

I learned a lot from Jeremy’s campaigning in 2017, but I’m also proud of what we achieved in Hove & Portslade - yet my offers to share insight were always shunned

In both 2015 and ‘17 two of the biggest swings from Tory to Labour were in Ilford North and Hove.

In the same period some of the biggest swings from Labour to Tory were in Bolsover and NW Durham.

The signs of our failure were there before Brexit yet discussing = disloyalty 🤦🏻‍♂️

Labour has to want to win.

Winning built the NHS and Open University. It delivered tax credits, the minimum wage and peace to Northern Ireland.

If Labour is a platform for ideology not government then it’s not the right place for you.

I want a conversation not a fight.

*Everyone’s* experiences and insight should be respected on its own terms - not viewed through the prism of ‘will Jeremy like it’.

If we can manage this Labour has a future, a future that defeats the Tories and propels us to government.

If not, Labour will dwindle into terminal irrelevance.

I want a Labour government. If Jeremy and his team do too they will step down now to help us heal and recover