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Labour election result not good enough, Chris Leslie says | Labour election result not good enough, Chris Leslie says |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Labour's election result should not be seen as a "famous victory" and was "not good enough", says former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie. | Labour's election result should not be seen as a "famous victory" and was "not good enough", says former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie. |
The Labour MP, who has been a critic of leader Jeremy Corbyn, said he recognised the party ran an "effective campaign" but a Conservative prime minister currently sits in No 10. | The Labour MP, who has been a critic of leader Jeremy Corbyn, said he recognised the party ran an "effective campaign" but a Conservative prime minister currently sits in No 10. |
Questions should be asked about how the party can win a majority, he added. | Questions should be asked about how the party can win a majority, he added. |
The Tories have said they will form a government with the support of the DUP. | The Tories have said they will form a government with the support of the DUP. |
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Leslie said: "We shouldn't pretend that this is a famous victory. It's good as far as it's gone, but it's not going to be good enough." | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Leslie said: "We shouldn't pretend that this is a famous victory. It's good as far as it's gone, but it's not going to be good enough." |
Labour secured 262 seats in the election and boosted its vote share to 40%. | Labour secured 262 seats in the election and boosted its vote share to 40%. |
The Conservatives won 318 seats - eight less than it needed in order to secure a majority. | The Conservatives won 318 seats - eight less than it needed in order to secure a majority. |
Mr Leslie said Labour missed an "open goal" as he had "never known" a more beatable prime minister than Theresa May. | Mr Leslie said Labour missed an "open goal" as he had "never known" a more beatable prime minister than Theresa May. |
He believes his party still has "more to do" and needs to learn lessons so it can go on to win a majority. | He believes his party still has "more to do" and needs to learn lessons so it can go on to win a majority. |
The Labour MP for Nottingham East refused to say whether he thought Mr Corbyn was credible prime minister. | The Labour MP for Nottingham East refused to say whether he thought Mr Corbyn was credible prime minister. |
"I will never apologise for my view which is, yes of course you've got to inspire people, and we haven't done that well enough in the past. | "I will never apologise for my view which is, yes of course you've got to inspire people, and we haven't done that well enough in the past. |
"But you've got to convince them of your credibility and that you can move from protesting about the government to being in government." | "But you've got to convince them of your credibility and that you can move from protesting about the government to being in government." |
Mr Leslie said Labour MPs were "working in this together" but he would not commit to serving in a shadow cabinet. | Mr Leslie said Labour MPs were "working in this together" but he would not commit to serving in a shadow cabinet. |
He said he feared an issue would arise which would go against his principles and he would have to resign. | He said he feared an issue would arise which would go against his principles and he would have to resign. |
"I'm never going to give in arguing for what I believe is a pathway to a majority Labour government," he added. | "I'm never going to give in arguing for what I believe is a pathway to a majority Labour government," he added. |
However, shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith has called on Theresa May to step aside to allow Labour a chance to form a minority government. | |
She told BBC Radio Wales: "We're still saying quite clearly that we would be ready to take over if Theresa May cannot cobble something together, and we're very doubtful that she can. | |
"We don't really think she has a mandate to now, she's really made a fool of herself and really, quite frankly, she should step aside and let us have a go." | |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had given the party "confidence" about selling party policies such as public ownership of the railways, she added. |