BURY South MP Ivan Lewis says the Labour Party left traditional supporters feeling “alienated” during the EU referendum campaign.

Reacting to the Brexit vote, the Remain supporter said that the voters’ decision must be respected and that David Cameron was right to announce he will step down as Prime Minister.

In Bury, 54 per cent of voters backed the Leave campaign, compared to 52 per cent nationwide.

Mr Lewis, who is campaigning to become Greater Manchester’s first elected mayor, said: “Obviously, I’m very disappointed but we have to respect the fact that people have taken the opportunity to vote and we must listen to what they have said.

“I think there is an awful lot of people who are having a tough time and are really angry. I think this was a way of them saying, ‘We do all the right things and work hard to make a positive contribution, but our pay doesn’t go up, our cost of living increases, and our lives aren’t getting any better.’ “They partially blame government cuts for that, and partially the EU as well.

“The feeling I got from the people of Bury was very mixed, and in a way that was reflective of the country as a whole.

“What was clear is that there are very, very strong feelings on both sides and if you are a democrat you should welcome the fact that there was a high turnout.”

Following Mr Cameron’s announcement this morning, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also faced calls to reconsider his position after many traditional northern strongholds voted comfortably for Leave.

Mr Lewis added: “I think the Labour Party has had a problem with its traditional core supporters for a significant period of time and we have got to face up to that squarely.

“They don’t support Tory policy, but they also feel alienated from Labour. They don’t feel we are in touch with their everyday lives and concerns and yesterday they had an opportunity to send a very strong message in a way that nobody anticipated they would.

“I think David Cameron has made the right decision. His position is unsustainable and he has done the right thing by stepping down.

“From a stability point of view, the country is facing a very, very sensitive time in the coming weeks and I think it is also right that he will not be leaving office immediately.”