Dan Jarvis says Labour Party needs to undergo 'fundamental reform' if it has any chance of winning 2020 election

MP claims 'we will never form a Labour government again unless we respond to what the public think about us'

Dan Jarvis has been touted as a possible leader-in-waiting for the Labour party (REX Features)

Dan Jarvis has said the Labour party needs to undergo “fundamental change” if it has any chance of winning the next election.

Writing in the Yorkshire Post on the fifth anniversary of winning a by-election in Barnsley Central, he said the party needed to focus on what “people actually care about: their family, work and community”.

He said: “It is an enormous privilege to serve my constituents in Parliament, and in the course of my duties as an MP, I have met thousands of people in every corner of our country.

“I have been humbled by their kindness, good humour and decency, and inspired by their desire for a better country.

“They have taught me a difficult truth: many no longer trust the Labour Party because we stopped talking about the things that matter to them.

“Having suffered two devastating election defeats, it is clear that we will never form a Labour government again unless we respond to what the public think about us.”

“Offering up a few new policies won’t cut it”, he added.

Mr Jarvis ruled himself out of the Labour leadership contest last year saying he had young children who had to “come first”.

But the 43-year-old former Army major is widely regarded as a leader-in-waiting and has been openly critical of the leftward direction of the party under Jeremy Corbyn.

He said people no longer trust Labour “because we stopped talking about the things that matter to them”.

He wants the party to “lead our country into an age of great reform”.

Mr Jarvis stressed the need for policies to develop a “world-leading education system” and “invest in family life” - particularly during the early childhood years - and to “demonstrate how we would offer high quality and affordable childcare and social care systems”.

Mr Jarvis has criticised the leftward direction of the party under Jeremy Corbyn (Getty Images)

He also wants to talk about how to improve work-life balance and tackle “the scourge of low pay” and the “start of a technological revolution”.

Mr Jarvis concluded: “We must again become a credible and effective movement and renew our proud tradition as the party of family, work and community.”