This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50888060

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Ed Miliband to join review of Labour's election failure Ed Miliband to join review of Labour's election failure
(about 2 hours later)
Ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband will sit on a panel of party figures to review its general election failure.Ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband will sit on a panel of party figures to review its general election failure.
Labour Together, which describes itself as a network of activists from all traditions, is setting up a commission to "map out a route back to power".Labour Together, which describes itself as a network of activists from all traditions, is setting up a commission to "map out a route back to power".
It says the panel will view attempts to pin the blame on a single cause, such as Brexit or Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, as simplistic and wrong.It says the panel will view attempts to pin the blame on a single cause, such as Brexit or Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, as simplistic and wrong.
Members, focus groups in heartlands, and defeated candidates will get a say.Members, focus groups in heartlands, and defeated candidates will get a say.
Former shadow education secretary Lucy Powell will spearhead the review, alongside Mr Miliband and Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood. Labour lost its fourth general election in a row on Thursday, 12 December, recording its worst performance, in terms of seats, since 1935, as a string of constituencies in its traditional Northern strongholds fell to the Conservatives.
Ms Powell said the inquiry would take a "real and meaningful look" at why the party had "fallen short" at four consecutive elections. A row has broken out between the different wings of the party about what caused the defeat, as contenders to replace leader Jeremy Corbyn jockey for position.
"We all have to accept that our offers to the country have been insufficient," she said. Labour Together was launched after the 2015 general election by a group of Labour MPs, including Lisa Nandy, one of those tipped to be lining up a leadership bid.
Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Powell said there was "a real appetite" for Labour members of all traditions to come together and analyse what has changed. It says it wants to involve all wings of the party, from left-wing campaign group Momentum to the centrist pressure group Progress, in its post-mortem.
The group aims to publish its report by the end of February, before the new Labour leader is chosen.
Labour Together's commissioners intend to:
The review will be spearheaded by Lucy Powell, who ran Ed Miliband's 2015 election campaign.
Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, she said there was "a real appetite" for Labour members of all traditions to come together and analyse what has changed.
"I think retreating into a factional-based analysis would be the worst thing we could do at this juncture," she said."I think retreating into a factional-based analysis would be the worst thing we could do at this juncture," she said.
Ms Powell added: "The Labour coalition has fundamentally changed over the last 20 years.Ms Powell added: "The Labour coalition has fundamentally changed over the last 20 years.
"Unless we properly reflect on that, then whoever is leader next won't be able to deal with it.""Unless we properly reflect on that, then whoever is leader next won't be able to deal with it."
The commission will be made up of voices from "different Labour traditions" and hopes to capitalise on the "millions of conversations" voters had with Labour campaigners, a spokesman said. Other confirmed commissioners include Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood, Jo Platt, who lost her seat in the former stronghold of Leigh, Greater Manchester, Sienna Rodgers, editor of the news website LabourList, and James Meadway, former economic adviser to shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
Other confirmed commissioners include Jo Platt, who lost her seat in the former stronghold of Leigh, Greater Manchester, Labourlist website editor Sienna Rodgers and James Meadway, former economic adviser to shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
The panel is also expected to recruit a trade union representative and a local organiser.The panel is also expected to recruit a trade union representative and a local organiser.
'No easy task' Ms Rodgers said the review would pore over the results in "an even-handed way, which doesn't start with blaming one faction, or individual".
Commenting on the inquiry, BBC political correspondent Jessica Parker said: "Labour Together claims it will seek to rise above the factionalism it says has coloured much of the party's politics in recent years." Some MPs who lost their seat blame Mr Corbyn's unpopularity with voters.
"But - with a potentially bruising leadership battle looming - reaching a consensus on Labour's past, as well as its future, could prove no easy task." Mr Corbyn says Labour "won the argument" but blamed the media and the fact that the campaign was dominated by Brexit, rather than Labour's plans to boost public spending.
Commissioners intend to: But internal opponents of Mr Corbyn say the party must ditch his left-wing policy agenda to stand any chance of regaining power.
The party last won an election in 2005 under the leadership of former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Labour last won a general election in 2005 under the leadership of former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Mr Blair said last week 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".Mr Blair said last week 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".
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.
The defeat prompted a bitter internal row about the party's Brexit stance.
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".