New Labour has 'run its course'

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The left-winger insisted that New Labour had "run its course" and questioned whether the Chancellor, as one of its main architects, was in a position to improve the party's position.

"I think after the elections ... the Labour Party is facing the writing on the wall and we need a public debate about the change in direction of travel of the government," he told BBC1's Sunday AM.

"Whoever is the new leader, it's not just a question of changing the face, it's a question of reinvigorating, exciting the enthusiasm and imagination of our supporters. We clearly lost it."

Mr Meacher praised New Labour's electoral success but said it had now "run its course" and needed to change.

He added: "If it were to be Gordon Brown (who succeeds Tony Blair), has he the ability to make these changes sufficiently to get back what we have lost? I doubt it."

Mr Meacher said he and fellow left-wing challenger John McDonnell had made a deal that they would not stand against each other.

"We have agreed if we stand against each other neither of us are getting to get anywhere," he said.

The pair will decide in the middle of this week which of them has the most support and throw their lot in with that person.

In that scenario, he said, it was "very likely" one of them would achieve the support of the 44 MPs needed to enter the leadership contest against Mr Brown.