Labour will cease to exist unless it “drastically changes course”, according to suspended MP Brian Leishman.
The outspoken left-winger claimed the “party’s principles have largely been abandoned” by the leadership and called for a “change [of] culture”.
Mr Leishman, the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, also accused Sir Keir Starmer of being “reactive instead of proactive” but stopped short of calling for the Prime Minister to resign.
His comments came as the party faithful gathered in Liverpool for Labour’s annual conference.
Although he had the whip removed in July after repeatedly criticising the UK Government over welfare reforms, Winter Fuel Payment cuts and the closure of Grangemouth oil refinery, Mr Leishman is still a party member and will attend the conference.
“I think we are facing an existential threat to the future of the Labour Party, because of some of the decisions that we are making,” he said.
“And when we look at the societal issues that we have got, gross inequality that is accelerating, yes, the solution is proper Labour Party values and their socialist principles of redistribution of wealth, of power and opportunity.
“It is a threat to the party because our core vote are feeling let down, our party’s principles have largely been abandoned by some of the decisions that have been taken.
“We have hit our own core support these last 15 months, our supporters and members deserve better.
“Chasing Reform and Tory voters and pandering to their agenda is not the way a Labour government should behave.
“Our General Election win was large but the support we received was shallow and the approval polls show that people are not happy.
“Govern with real Labour values and change the country.
“When you look at political leaders they make the weather and shape the agenda and Keir Starmer has been reactive instead of proactive. Leaders lead and shape the political agenda. He needs to think about that.”
This week’s conference comes against a backdrop of falling poll ratings and speculation about Sir Keir’s leadership.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has suggested some Labour MPs have privately urged him to challenge the Prime Minister for the party leadership.
A new mega-poll by YouGov suggested a Reform UK government would be a near certainty if a general election was called tomorrow.
Mr Leishman refused to be drawn when asked if he thought the party needed to remove Sir Keir as leader.
“The party has got to change tack and change culture. We have got to redistribute power and wealth across society.
"We absolutely have to do that, because it is a threat. Look at our approval rates. Our approval rates across the country are poor.
"We have got a Scottish Parliament election next year. We have got the Welsh Senedd elections coming up, and it is not looking good. We have got to change course and actually embrace proper Labour Party values.
“One of the things that the government has done, and it has done fairly well, and it has been very, very popular, has been the nationalisation of the railways in England. That makes common sense. We should be looking at embarking on a real period of nationalisation of key utilities.”
Mr Leishman is still hopeful he will be allowed back on the Labour benches in the Commons and has a meeting with the whips on Wednesday October 15 to discuss his suspension.
“I still believe the Labour Party is the most likely vehicle to improve things and equalise things and get rid of inequality in our society, so we have got to govern with proper Labour Party values.”
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “After 14 years of Tory misery, Labour has decisively ended austerity, boosted pay for millions of the lowest paid workers, introduced the greatest boost to workers' rights in a generation, established a publicly-owned energy company, secured the future of Scottish shipbuilding and more.
“The Scottish Parliament election will be a direct choice between more decline with this knackered SNP government and a Scottish Labour government with ambition for Scotland’s future.”
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