'We can't go on sleepwalking'

Chapter Four of the Labour Party rule book lays down in respect of the leader and deputy leader of the party that "where there is no vacancy, nominations shall be sought each year prior to the annual session of party conference". Asking why this rule has not been observed this year is not to seek a "leadership election".

Many Labour MPs and party members are frustrated at their lack of a voice when the Government is clearly so unpopular with voters. In the words of one of my party officers, active in the party for over 50 years, "we have achieved so much and now we have thrown it all away".

Out on the doorstep in my constituency last week, there was no sense that the party is unpopular with voters.

The support for the Tories is soft. As the rumblings about Gordon Brown's leadership have continued, his supporters have repeatedly said that critics should "put up or shut up". Observing the party's rules about the annual requirement to renominate the leader and deputy leader would have met that charge.

What is clear is that we have to do something. We cannot go on "sleepwalking to oblivion", but we are - and we will continue to do so if we do nothing to address the reasons why we have been so far behind in the polls.

That means a root-and-branch review of our policies and how we communicate them to the voters. And if that requires a change of leadership, so be it.