At the very moment David Cameron arrived in Bury as part of his victory tour on Friday, the heavens opened and he received a good old-fashioned northern drenching. A divine intervention no doubt designed to remind him that behind the headlines in Bury there was no collapse in the Labour vote and more crucially a distinct absence of the ‘switchers’ who played such a crucial part in new Labour’s advance to our ’97 landslide victory. Bury included, this week’s results have plunged a dagger into the hearts of Labour members, councillors and parliamentarians. The ferocity of the suburban revolt in London and throughout the country is not so much a wake-up call as a final warning.

Paradoxically the scale of the defeat gives the PM a chance to break free from the traumas of the election that never was, the 10p tax furore and constant sniping at his leadership. In the short term there is no escape from the challenges of the controversial terror and human embryology legislation or the pending by-election but the mainstream majority in the Parliamentary Labour Party know that any talk of leadership contests is the fastest route to opposition and will undermine not save those who are job insecure. Gordon Brown has not been put on probation by his party, like the rest of us he has received a final warning from the British people and we will either sink or swim together depending on the nature of our response. Ultimately, people will have to make a real choice between the leadership of Gordon Brown and David Cameron as they ponder their own interests and the national interest. That is a prospect we should welcome in the aftermath of a difficult economic period. So what do we need to do if we are to re-build the new Labour coalition and against the odds go on to win the next general election?

We have to act and speak in a way which demonstrates we understand the anxieties, realities and aspirations of families struggling to balance childcare with work, pay the bills on a fixed income and do their best for their kids. All new policies and legislation should meet either a ‘peoples priority’ or long term challenge test. We should do all we can to sweep away the petty rules and unnecessary state interference which protect no one , do not reflect our values and are an affront to common sense.

Ministers should provide leadership by focusing on decisions which will make a real difference to people’s lives and lead to tangible change in local communities. Competence is essential but we are politicians not administrators and chose Labour politics because we are passionate in our belief that opportunity and aspiration should be available to all. Conviction and passion should be evident a little more often.

Fairness must be at the core of every action we now take. Whether it be the overall burden of personal taxation, corporate excesses, MPs’ expenses, public service failure, access to high quality education and healthcare, the messages we send through the courts and immigration system, home ownership for young people or dignity in the way we treat older people and their carers, new Labour must stand up for the decent values of the mainstream majority.

Gordon Brown’s unquestionable commitment to the pursuit of social justice must be central to our narrative. In tackling social exclusion and waging a national ‘war against poverty’ we must be bold and radical. Identifying children and families most at risk in every community, attaching one lead professional with a delegated budget to each family with clear long-term goals to break the cycle of intergenerational deprivation in partnership with voluntary organisations, mentors and community networks. Internationally, the prime minister should continue to provide moral leadership on trade, debt, aid and climate change issues.

Politically, we have to move quickly to rebuild the morale and structures of our party machine and use the House of Commons more effectively to expose the many ‘black holes’ in Tory and Lib Dem policy. As well as making the case for Labour’s many achievements and vision for the future we must use every opportunity to face people up with the risks they will be taking with their standard of living if they fall for the apparently benign ‘it’s time for a change’ message of David Cameron’s conservatives.

These elections signalled a return to real politics after the fantasy island we have inhabited during the course of most of the past 13 years. We are back as the underdogs, Labour’s conventional status but virgin territory for new Labour. Indeed, new Labour only became possible when the underdogs finally decided they wanted to be winners and accepted the need for change if they were to be trusted with government by the people.

As Labour MPs return to Westminster this week we carry a heavy burden of responsibility to our constituents and our party. We can be winners again but only if we have the courage and vision to change while in government. The clock is ticking and we are running out of time.

Ivan Lewis is MP for Bury South and care services minister

Times Recommends

• The bright side of this winter rain
• Story behind the picture: Snow Leopard, 2008
• Times Charity Appeal: The Place2Be