Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reflected on his catastrophic general election defeat while expressing his hope that there can still be a “better world”.

“This has been a difficult year for many of us,” he said in what will almost certainly be his last Christmas message as Labour leader.

Mr Corbyn also said it was a time of year when “the scale of injustice and inequality is in very plain sight”.

He praised those working in food banks and emergency shelters to help the less fortunate.

He added that Britain’s society was built on compassion and generosity and that some things can still bind us all together.  He also paid tribute to those who work in public services such as health and the Emergency Services.

“While we celebrate being together, we are reminded of the many who will be alone and sadly lonely at Christmas,” he said.

“But our communities are built on generosity and the solidarity that comes from that.

“So we do not walk by on the other side.” Mr Corbyn said. 

The Labour Leader did not refer directly to the General Election result of Dec 12th, the worst for Labour since before the war, but did state:

“We didn’t succeed in delivering the change that so many people so desperately need.

“But Christmas is a chance to listen, reflect and remember all the things that bind us together: our compassion, our determination to tackle injustice and our hope for a better world.” 

There also was no reference to Labour’s policy of a Second Referendum on Brexit, a policy which is widely believed to have been the primary reason for Labour’s heavy defeat this time around. 

It was an altogether surprisingly upbeat Christmas message given the circumstances for Labour this year, focusing more on the future than the past.