Yvette Cooper reckons the way forward is not David Cameron’s Big Society – but a Labour campaign for Small Town Britain.

After the devastating General Election defeat she blames a lack of support in small communities forgotten by modern politics.

Ms Cooper thinks plans for better transport links, high-speed internet and mobile phone services even in remote villages will bring them back in touch and help them move forward in business.

She said: “We did very well in big cities, that’s where we won seats. But where we lost votes was particularly in small towns across England and Wales and that’s where we have got to reach out and win those votes back.

“It’s going to be a tough job and you have got to be strong enough and experienced enough to take on the Tories from the start and to take on David Cameron from the start because he’s betraying people right across Britain.

“I don’t think the Tories have the answer to how do we get good quality jobs for the future. Just because we lost, it doesn’t mean we have to swallow the Tory manifesto.

“We should have Labour ideas and Labour values.

“We should be creating more jobs in the tech industry and helping business to grow with improved digital services.”

“We should be creating more jobs in the tech industry and helping business to grow with improved digital services.”

Yvette Cooper calls to end Cameron’s Big Society (Photo credit: Ian Cooper)

She has a well-placed ally in dotcom millionaire Martha Lane Fox.

The Shadow Home Secretary wants to drive a digital reboot which will bring British business to the forefront of the technology industry and secure future jobs for the next generation.

The Lastminute.com founder has been advising Ms Cooper on securing the future of the tech industry and getting more women involved.

The leadership hopeful also plans a “childcare revolution” to help parents get back to work without crippling costs – starting with protecting tax credits.

Ms Cooper added: “I’ve always been concerned about the value of tax credits. David Cameron says they’re a bad thing because they make you dependent.

“But actually what you know if you’re a mum is that tax credits can be the thing that give you independence because they can help you to afford childcare and can help you.”

Unlike contender Liz Kendall, she has also slammed the idea of privatising the NHS.

“There’s always been a mix in the health service, but where I think it has been really damaging is the competition and the fragmentation that we have seen in the last few years.

“The pressure to have competition with the private sector has undermined relationships within the health service.

“I think the kind of innovation we need in the health service is rather different for the future.

“I think we should have much more use of digital technology in order to modernise and improve the health service. We should be doing much more in terms of training.

“I don’t think that private sector competition is the answer in the health service. The National Health Service should work on the basis of cooperation and partnership.

“It should be about patient power and making sure the NHS has the resources for the future as well.

“We’ve got to make sure we hold the Government’s feet to the flames to make sure they can deliver the £8bn they have promised because the NHS needs that extra investment and support.”