Jeremy Corbyn 'sorry' for election disaster as he issues first apology in personal letter

Jeremy Corbyn today vows Labour will learn from its election disaster and listen to voters who abandoned the party.

In a personal letter to Sunday Mirror readers Mr Corbyn apologises for Thursday’s hammering.

And he tells them: “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.”

Mr Corbyn had previously stopped short of taking blame for the poll pummelling. But he redresses that omission and tells our readers: “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.

Labour took a hammering in the election, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson leading the Conservatives to a majority victory (PA)

“I’m sorry that we came up short and I take my responsibility for it.” But Mr Corbyn is unrepentant about the message he tried but failed to get across. He says: “I’m proud that our message was one of hope, rather than fear.”

Angry Labour MPs will get their first chance to tell Mr Corbyn what they think on Tuesday when the Parliamentary party meets. And they are unlikely to hold back after losing more than 50 colleagues in the electoral massacre unleashed by Boris Johnson.

Corbyn says: 'I’m sorry that we came up short and I take my responsibility for it,' but is unrepentant about message of 'hope not fear' (PA)

Among familiar faces who will not be returning are Don Valley’s Caroline Flint, Wakefield’s Mary Creagh, Bolsover’s Dennis Skinner, Delyn’s David Hanson, Keighley’s John Grogan and Gedling’s Vernon Coaker.

But MPs cannot demand Mr Corbyn goes quickly as there is no deputy leader to stand in after Tom Watson quit politics.

Jeremy Corbyn leaves a media interview at Islington Town Hall, after Labour's worst performance at a General Election since 1935 (PA)

That means Mr Corbyn will have to take an ear-bashing until a leadership election – a process likely to take several months.

John McDonnell yesterday confirmed he will quit as Shadow Chancellor.

And he said he plans to walk away from frontline politics – meaning no return to the Shadow Cabinet – once Mr Corbyn goes.

But a defiant Mr McDonnell said Mr Corbyn had been the right man to lead Labour – and once again blamed Brexit.

MPs cannot demand Mr Corbyn goes quickly as there is no deputy leader to stand in after Tom Watson quit politics (PA)

He told the BBC: “We had a party which was largely supportive of Remain but many of us were representing Leave constituencies. We were on the horns of a dilemma.

“If we vote one way to Leave, we would have alienated a lot of our Remain support. If we went for Remain, we alienate a lot of our Leave support.”