I campaigned in Bedford (hold), Milton Keynes S (loss), Dagenham (hold), Thurrock (loss, never should have been no2 on target list), Chingford (loss) and with a 7-day ban now over for saying the Observer should hang their heads over their tactical voting advice, I have thoughts.

First thing, since 1997, Labour have lost seats including the formerly safe seats of Blair, Brown and Mandelson. They lost those seats. They ignored the populations of those constituencies. New Labour failed its working class voters whatever their colour and race.

Economic liberalism with a sticking plaster and xenophobia was not a success in the long-term. On the contrary, Labour failed to heal ethnic divisions and failed to help those left behind economically. And failed to tackle the right-wing media, too. This is what we face now.