Voters are rejecting Labour because it's been taken over by trendy Londoners and "woke social media warriors", according to a city Labour MP.
Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said Labour must appeal to patriotic voters and focus on creating jobs, including in manufacturing.
He made the comments following the party's loss in the Hartlepool by-election, and poor showing in a number of council elections. Mr Mahmood also predicted Labour would lose the election for a West Midlands Mayor, although the result is not due to be announced until tomorrow, Saturday May 8.
In an article written for think tank Policy Exchange, Mr Mahmood said: "The Tories are deep into what was once safe Labour territory – the industrial heartlands of the North – with a 7,000 majority of their own. In the West Midlands it looks again like Labour will lose out on the mayoral race and more."
Explaining what he believes has gone wrong, he said: "Labour has lost touch with ordinary British people. A London-based bourgeoisie, with the support of brigades of woke social media warriors, has effectively captured the party.
"They mean well, of course, but their politics – obsessed with identity, division and even tech utopianism – have more in common with those of Californian high society than the kind of people who voted in Hartlepool yesterday.
"The loudest voices in the Labour movement over the past year in particular have focused more on pulling down Churchill’s statue than they have on helping people pull themselves up in the world. No wonder it is doing better among rich urban liberals and young university graduates than it is amongst the most important part of its traditional electoral coalition, the working-class."
Mr Mahmood said that voters were patriotic, with an "historic pride in their places". He warned: "Is there a danger that our party, in its opposition and confusion over Brexit, has veered towards an anti-British attitude? I certainly worry that some of our previous supporters will see it that way."
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Setting out the issues he believes the party should concentrate on, he said voters want job security, a well-funded NHS, investment in infrastructure, and in basic transport such as cleaner and greener buses.
He also condemned Birmingham's Labour-led council for demolishing the Perry Barr flyover, saying voters "most of all" want to be listened to. Mr Mahmood said: "I despaired when our local council ignored a 15,000-strong petition for a new flyover."