Last week’s election of John Biggs as Mayor in Tower Hamlets starts a new chapter in our politics. John will be a strong, accountable and visionary Mayor. Together, we now have the opportunity to restore people’s faith in democracy. We also have the chance to remind people that Tower Hamlets is a place with unique talents, energy and a sense of aspiration.

Nationally, it’s only been a month since the General Election and our party now faces the task of picking itself up from a nationwide defeat. In the East End Labour MPs were returned with greater numbers of people backing them. I am delighted to return to Parliament to fight for our East End alongside fantastic colleagues including Lyn Brown, Wes Streeting, Stephen Timms and Jim Fitzpatrick. That so many of you put your faith in Labour makes me immensely proud. Thank you again.

However despite our success in the East End we suffered a firm rejection in other seats across the country. We failed to persuade people that we understood their needs and hopes and were on their side. Simply put we didn’t convince enough people to trust us again.

We now face a formidable task of re-building but this will only work if we listen to why people rejected us. We must remember what is possible under a Labour government; transforming schools, building new local hospitals and creating Sure Start Centres have all made a real difference to people’s lives here in the East End.

Looking forward, we won’t be taking a single vote for granted. We will be holding the Government to account on where their cuts hit housing, our local GP surgeries, schools, policing and street cleaning. In Tower Hamlets, we will give local people a voice and fight to protect your services. John Biggs has a huge job ahead but I know that he has the ability and commitment that’s needed.