'What the heck does that mean, aspiration?'

Lord Prescott has said Labour needed a “fundamental change – both in organisation and the development of our ideas" if the party is to win the next election.

If the SNP keeps all the seats it won in Scotland on 7 May, Labour would need a 12% lead over the Conservatives in England and Wales to win a majority.

Questioning the use of phrases like “aspiration” and “hard-working people”, the former deputy Prime Minister and Labour party deputy leader, said Labour needed to use new language to convince voters.

But he added that the party's leadership election limited the amount of time needed for a vital debate.