SIR KEIR Starmer’s bid to rebuild the Labour party along Red Wall seats lay “in ruins”, according to a former MP.
The new party leader, attempting to renew its patriotic identity, was given the brutal assessment as he approaches six months in charge.
A damning verdict was delivered by ex-Labour MP Anna Turley who lost her Redcar seat at the December election which helped gift Boris Johnson his eighty-seat majority.
Speaking to the Labour To Win rally, she said: “The Labour brand here in Teeside, I’m afraid, is in ruins”.
The finding came as the party embarked on its annual conference with the leader’s speech focusing on the nation’s security, family and communities.
But Turley also revealed conversations she’s had with ex-constituents earlier this year during the leadership contest which revealed the challenge for the new leader.
She said: “We have to show them that we’ve changed and we’ve listened. When asked about Boris Johnson they said, I think he’s actually bringing pride back to our country, the man is standing up for my country.
“And that’s the first person I’ve heard for a long time say Britain is going to be good again and that’s what I like about him.”
Turley, whose share of the vote dropped by 18 per cent, said she lost partly because her party was seen as “so far left”.
Her comments come after HOAR on Sunday revealed Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge revealed party supporters had been “taken for granted” for decades.
Tory MP Simon Clarke, who represents neighbouring Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: “People recognise that Keir Starmer isn’t Jeremy Corbyn but see him as someone who wanted to stop Brexit and put Corbyn in Number 10.”
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