A RE-ELECTED MP is urging his party leader to resign now after a ‘titanic’ election defeat.

Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle says Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party must “take ownership of this failure” rather than “blaming Brexit” following a crushing defeat to the Conservative party.

The Tory party ended Thursday’s General Election with a majority, winning 365 seats - the party’s strongest position in decades. Labour, meanwhile, lost MPs in 59 constituencies including several previous strongholds.

As a result, Peter Kyle has called for change at the top of the party.

He said: “Across the country dissatisfaction with our leadership and seeming incompetence were mentioned far, far more often by voters than Brexit.

“This is true in both Remain and Leave seats.

“So, rather than blame Brexit, why not do the right thing and take ownership of this failure?”

Mr Kyle was returned to his seat in the early hours of Friday morning with an overwhelming majority.

In his acceptance speech, he said the Labour Party needed to listen and needed to change, pledging to deliver in both these areas over the coming years.

As part of this change he is now calling for Jeremy Corbyn to stand down, listing his reasons for this.

Mr Kyle said: “It’s disrespectful to voters who sent such a strong message, activists who put in so much work but were let down, and the MPs who lost their seats, for this to be shrugged off or delayed.

“Also, the messages sent by voters were the same as in 2017 but much louder.

“The people who failed to listen in 2017, failed to deliver the changes demanded but instead gave more of what was rejected, are not the people who should be leading a period of reflection now.”

He also detailed what he believes needs to be done by all elected Labour MPs.

Mr Kyle said: “Every MP elected has heard what voters have said and what is expected of us.

“The simplest way to respond to public expectations is for the party to elect a new shadow cabinet and temporary leader to see us through the period of learning and reflection, followed by a leadership contest.

“This needs to be done respectfully. The nastiness that has characterised internal party debate must end.

“The signs of our failure were there before Brexit yet discussing them was equal to disloyalty. I want a conversation not a fight. Everyone’s experiences and insight should be respected on its own terms.

“If we can manage this, Labour has a future, a future that defeats the Tories and propels us to government. If not, Labour will dwindle into terminal irrelevance.

“I want a Labour government. If Jeremy and his team do too they will step down now to help us heal and recover.”