Simon Birds

The election results today have clearly been tough for Labour. I’m sorry that we’ve lost so many brilliant Labour colleagues across the country, and thank them for their service. And I’m sorry that so many voters felt unable to vote Labour at these elections. @Keir_Starmer has taken responsibility and committed all of us to delivering on the mandate the country gave us at the last election. The Labour Party shouldn’t waste a minute of the time we’ve been given to get on with that job. If we turn inwards the public will think we’re walking away from that challenge. The next election will have unity or division on the ballot. A Britain built for all, or a Britain for the few. Britain is at its best when we come together and rise to the challenges of our time. And Labour is at its best when our values of equality, collectivism and unity power our project for the British people. We can deliver a better Britain in the years ahead and beat the prospect of division at the next election, but only if we come together, get on with the job and face the future.