Labour can be proud of what it has achieved in the past few weeks. In the face of heavy headwinds, it has gained more than 330 councillors, and won where it matters in the key marginal seats needed to form a government next year. But Ukip's success needs to be treated with respect. Its rise over the past decade is symptomatic of a wider discontent for which we share some responsibility. At times, Labour has appeared to take the support of our heartlands for granted. And in office, we failed to heed people's concerns.
As the world has changed through globalisation and technology, it has left many feeling left behind. Even before the global financial crash, a decade of growth bypassed too many of our communities. After the crash, they felt they were picking up the tab for a crisis that was not of their making, in an economy in which they didn't feel included.
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