If Gordon Brown is in any doubt about why Labour crashed to a historically terrible defeat at the local elections, he should read what Jon Cruddas writes in today's Sunday Mirror.
In a defining article, Labour MP Mr Cruddas goes straight to the heart of the crisis. The party's core supporters feel they no longer matter, he says. They believe they have been abandoned.
After 11 years in power, they consider New Labour is more interested in wooing middleclass swing voters than the people who have always been the backbone of the party.
It is an indication of just how appalling things now are, Mr Cruddas says, that not only are they not supporting Labour, they have voted for the opposition.
At this time of economic difficulties and rising costs for fuel, petrol, food and mortgages, the government is bound to get the blame. Even though most of our financial woes stem from international crises, so no British politician could have avoided them.
But one issue above all others confirmed to Labour's core supporters their worst fears about the direction the government had taken - the abolition of the 10p tax rate.
It struck at the most vulnerable in society, the very people who rely on Labour.
Mr Brown has acknowledged he has not listened and promises to change. He must mean it and do it. It is not too late to avoid defeat at the general election - since there are two years before he has to go to the country.
Two years for Gordon Brown to get it right. Two years to expose David Cameron's Tories for what they really are. Does anyone think they truly care about the most disadvantaged people in society? Surely not.
Just look what they did out of sight of the cameras when they heard Boris Johnson had become mayor of London - tucked into champagne, oysters and caviar.
Mr Brown must make sure voters have a real choice at the next election.
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