Jeremy Corbyn apologizes over heavy Labour defeat

Britain's main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has apologized to Labour supporters over his party's heavy defeat in the general election, but vows they will learn from their mistakes and listen to voters.

“We will learn the lessons of this defeat, above all by listening to lifelong Labour voters who we’ve lost in working class communities. This party exists to represent them. We will earn their trust back,” Corbyn wrote in his open letter to the Mirror on Sunday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a majority of 80 in the 650-seat House of Commons in Thursday's general election, his party's biggest election win for 30 years.

The Conservative Party swept aside Labour in its traditional heartlands. The 24 Labour heartland seats lost to the Tories for the first time in decades. Labour suffered its worst election result since before World War II and saw its vote share fall by 8 points.

Corbyn acknowledged the party's failure in the poll and said he accepted his responsibility for it that handed Johnson a mandate to take Britain out of the EU next month.

But the veteran politician defended his far-left platform and blamed the media for their election disaster.

"I will make no bones about it. The election result on Thursday was a body blow for everyone who so desperately needs real change in our country," Corbyn wrote.

"I wanted to unite the country that I love but I'm sorry that we came up short and I take my responsibility for it," he said.

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Corbyn said he remained "proud" of the party's campaign, and offered a message of "hope" in the election.

He tried to shift the campaign's focus on bread-and-butter social issues important to Labour voters.

"But despite our best efforts, this election was ultimately about Brexit," Corbyn admitted in his letter.

"The Tory campaign, amplified by most of the media, managed to persuade many that only Boris Johnson could 'get Brexit done'," he said in reference to Johnson's campaign slogan.

"We will learn the lessons of this defeat," he added.

McDonnell: 'I own this disaster’

Meanwhile, John McDonnell, Labour’s finance policy chief, said on Sunday he takes full responsibility for the party’s disastrous election defeat, in an effort to divert blame away from Corbyn.

The shadow chancellor apologized and claimed that he “owns this disaster”.

But he also blamed the failure to communicate the party’s Brexit policy and relentless media attacks on Corbyn for the defeat.

“It’s on me. It’s on me. Let’s take it on the chin. I own this disaster. I apologize to all those wonderful Labour MPs who’ve lost their seats who’ve worked so hard … If anyone’s to blame it is me. Full stop,” McDonnell told BBC.

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