Jeremy Corbyn’s letter written to party members apologizing to them after a disastrous outing at the just concluded elections, has been released.
Jeremy Corbyn wrote an open letter to the Sunday Mirror after Labour party lost more than 50 seats to the conservatives at the general election, allowing Boris Johnson to secure his party’s greatest victory since Margaret Thatcher triumphed at the polls in 1987.
Mr Corbyn’s letter reads: ‘We will learn the lessons of this defeat, above all by listening to lifelong Labour voters who we’ve lost in working-class communities. This party exists to represent them. We will earn their trust back.’
The Labour leader has previously resisted calls to personally apologise and faced criticism for refusing to step down immediately, instead of saying he will resign when a new leader is chosen next year. He redresses that in his letter, saying he takes responsibility for the party’s worst defeat at the polls in 80 years
The letter states: ‘I will make no bones about it. ‘The result was a body blow for everyone who so desperately needs real change in our country. And to Sunday Mirror readers, your support has been such a source of strength. ‘I’m sorry that we came up short and I take my responsibility for it.’ Corbyn says he is prepared to stay as leader until next year Play
Jeremy Corbyn’s letter reads:
“Dear Sunday Mirror readers, I will make no bones about it. The election result on Thursday was a body blow for everyone who so desperately needs real change in our country. To every single person who voted for the Labour Party – everyone who shared the hope that Britain could be a fairer country that works for the many, not the few – I say thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And to the Sunday Mirror and its readers, your support has been such a source of strength. I wanted to unite the country that I love but I’m sorry that we came up short and I take my responsibility for it. I remain proud of the campaign we fought. I’m proud that no matter how low our opponents went, we refused to join them in the gutter. And I’m proud that our message was one of hope, rather than fear.
Millions of people saw in our manifesto a better future for themselves and their communities. Our policies to protect the NHS, end austerity, invest in every part of our country and tackle inequality, were popular with voters who saw through a ferocious smear and fear campaign against us. But despite our best efforts, this election was ultimately about Brexit.
The Tory campaign, amplified by most of the media, managed to persuade many that only Boris Johnson could “get Brexit done.” That will soon be exposed for the falsehood it is, but in this election it overpowered our attempt to reach across the divide and bring our country together We will learn the lessons of this defeat, above all by listening to those lifelong Labour voters who we’ve lost in working-class communities. This party exists to represent them. We will earn their trust back. Make no mistake: Labour is the greatest force for progressive change this country has ever known, and although this wasn’t our moment, our time will come again under new leadership. We will never give up on the commitment and determination to build a fairer and more decent society”.