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