Labour MPs demand radical shift left

Forty Labour MPs made the call after Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband invited submissions for the Labour Party manifesto in the forthcoming general election.

The Coalition for a Labour Victory, which has the support of rail union ASLEF and bakers' union BFAWU, is convinced that the government must implement policies in favour of the core working-class electorate.

One of the coalition's instigators, Michael Meacher MP, said it was an "ongoing campaign" which would aim to "establish the broadest possible support" for a change in direction.

"Labour can win if it is prepared to be radical. Policies aimed at jobs, homes and redistribution will resound with Labour voters whose loyalties have been strained," he said.

"And floating voters have supported higher taxes for the highly paid and also want to see bailed-out banks repay the community.

"Ed Miliband has invited submissions on what the manifesto should include.

"Like dozens of constituency Labour parties, I urge him to focus on these principles and break for good with the market fundamentalism of the last 30 years."

As well as more investment in public infrastructure, retail banks should be required to meet new social and community objectives to support Britain's ailing manufacturing industry and carbon reduction should start domestically, not through carbon offsetting abroad, the coalition said.

The signatories:
Diane Abbott - Hackney North
John Austin - Erith & Thamesmead
Colin Burgon - Elmet
Ronnie Campbell - Blyth Valley
Colin Challen - Morley & Rothwell
Michael Clapham - Barnsley West
Katy Clark - North Ayrshire & Arran
Harry Cohen - Leyton & Wanstead
Michael Connarty - Linlithgow
Frank Cook - Stockton North
Jeremy Corbyn - Islington North
Jim Cousins - Newcastle Central
Jon Cruddas - Dagenham
Ann Cryer - Keighley
Ian Davidson - Glasgow South West
David Drew - Stroud
Bill Etherington - Sunderland North
Mark Fisher - Stoke-on-Trent Central
Paul Flynn - Newport West
Neil Gerrard - Walthamstow
Fabian Hamilton - Leeds North East
Dai Havard - Merthyr Tydfil
David Heyes - Ashton-under-Lyne
Kelvin Hopkins - Luton North
Lindsay Hoyle - Chorley
Brian Iddon - Bolton South East
Lynne Jones - Birmingham Selly Oak
Andrew Mackinlay - Thurrock
John McDonnell - Hayes & Harl'ton
Michael Meacher - Oldham West
Alan Meale - Mansfield
Austin Mitchell - Great Grimsby
Chris Mullin - Sunderland South
Gordon Prentice - Pendle
Ken Purchase - Wolverhampton NE
Linda Riordan - Halifax
Alan Simpson - Nottingham South
Marsha Singh - Bradford West
Graham Stringer - Mancs Blackley
Paul Truswell - Pudsey
Joan Walley - Stoke-on-Trent North
David Winnick - Walsall North
Mike Wood - Batley & Spen