DOUGLAS Alexander MP has linked the 2008 financial crash to the public's current lack of trust in politicians.
The Shadow Foreign Secretary claimed the banking crisis "undermined trust in the competence, motives and honesty of the powerful - including politicians".
He added: "That loss of confidence in the competence and probity of the powerful has precipitated an unprecedented fall in trust in mainstream politics.
"Crosscurrents of dissatisfaction - from distrust of politicians to concerns about living standards to fears of international threats - are prevalent everywhere.
"This distrust has given rise to populism on both the left and the right.
"Across Europe there has been an electoral shift to the extremes of politics." Mr Alexander, who is chair of Labour's General Election Strategy, said it was important for the party to realise that this shift in politics has changed the task that it faces in the next six months.
"We need to not just listen but to acknowledge the anger, grievance and deeper forces causing economic and political alienation", he said.
"That means getting outside Westminster and engaging directly with the public; opening up the campaigning and meetings to ensure there is a real dialogue with the public."
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