It’s now clear from every analysis of the 2010 vote that Labour lost the election because it lost the support of those on middle incomes. They felt they had less money, their jobs felt insecure and housing is too expensive for their children to buy or rent. In other words, as with most elections, it was the economy that decided the election. Sadly, we didn’t give people hope, so they turned to the Tories.

We need to learn from that mistake, and start work straight away to develop the economic policies that mean people will trust us in 2015. Our new economic policies must give people hope and make people feel we will improve their lives.

I don’t accept the argument being put forward by some that having policies that appeal to the pollsters’ favourites, Mondeo Man and Worcester Woman, means ignoring our traditional supporters. Rising prices, wage stagnation and access to housing for the next generation concern all but the very richest. These are key issues that affect and concern everybody, so we need new policies that will help low and middle income families – not one or the other, but both.

Like John Prescott, I love pledge cards – five simple pledges that tell people what we are for. Our 1997 pledge card was in plain English and very specific. Our 2010 pledges were not easy to understand and had no specific promises – difficult to grasp, let alone inspire. In 2015 we need pledges in language that everyone understands and that address the big issues that can change the lives of the many, not the few. On the economy, three key areas in particular.

The first is employment. Labour created jobs, but beyond the public sector, many were temporary, part-time or less skilled. Our next manifesto must tell people how we will also create skilled, high tech and green jobs in manufacturing and industry. Our 2010 manifesto talked in general terms but we need to be much more specific in what we propose to be credible.

The second economic issue is housing. We have a huge shortage of housing and prices are high, for renting or buying. The average age at which adults leave their parents’ home is soaring. We need to have the equivalent of Nye Bevan’s million homes pledge after the war. And that will many more council houses and social housing – the private sector has shown it can’t deliver.

The third area is energy. As energy costs have soared (and so have energy company profits), energy has become an economic as well as environmental issue. Every household is paying much more for energy. We need to focus on measures that help families reduce energy costs as well as saving the planet (for instance, setting up community-owned local renewable energy schemes).

To win in 2015 we need to make people feel they will be better off under Labour. We know that the public didn’t feel very enthusiastic about the Tories or the Lib Dems, and so we should use the next two or three years to have an open and honest policy debate but also one that ensures we develop Labour policies that will speak to everyone who needs our help most – not low or medium income households, but both. That way we will be walking the streets in 2015 talking about a Labour manifesto that combines real Labour values with policies that people know will help them and leave them better off, rebuilding the broad support that won us three elections.

Photo: MT_bulli