He said the government was `too often' failing to tackle the concerns of ordinary people - and predicted Labour would suffer election losses as a result.
He stopped short of directly blaming Gordon Brown.
But he warned the government was ignoring issues most important to hard-working families.
Mr Lewis, Bury south MP, said: "This is not a criticism of Gordon, but we have been in government 11 years and instead of being on the side of the people, too often we simply defend the status quo, even when it is unacceptable."
Mr Lewis said it was ironic that Labour, having `revolutionised' communications in politics, had `failed so dismally' to persuade people that it had delivered improvements in public services and living standards.
He called for the immediate deportation of foreign criminals and greater sentences for people carrying guns and knives.
Mr Lewis, who joined the campaign to save maternity provision at Fairfield Hospital in Bury, said: "It is right that we focus on the great challenges of climate change, globalisation, security and poverty at home and abroad and the nature of public service reform.
"However, we are too often silent on the daily realities facing hardworking families."
Mr Brown has faced increasing disgruntlement within his own ranks as Labour trails the Tories in the polls by up to 14 points.
But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she disagreed with Mr Lewis' comments.
She said: "I don't agree with him that we are out of touch. I do agree with him that it is fundamentally important that we listen to what the British people are saying." Tweet
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Ivan Lewis is a stand up individual who has been a great servant to Bury since his election. It's just a shame that he represents a party that is unelectable.
Jacqui Smith typifies this. She dare not speak up against the control freak running Labour. If they do not think they are out of touch - PUT IT TO THE VOTE
The man hit the nail on the head. The ordinary working person is put upon by this government. The patience is running out, and Mr Lewis knows this. It won't make a difference to the arrogant New Labour, until they simply find themselves voted out.
Totally right. The working people have been abandoned by Labour, who now seem to represent the chattering classes who are out of touch with reality
When people reach a certain level in politics, and business, they lose contact with the real world and start spouting drivel.
Forget this rubbish about climate change, the wretched olympics etc etc, start focusing on what matters :
GET RID OF CRIMINAL SCUM AND STOP JOBS BEING EXPORTED OVERSEAS
NEW PARTY NEEDED ANYONE INTERESTED?
We all need to think carefully before we vote yet another political party you may not listen to the voters think of other parties like UKIP, even the green party but try and find a different one rather than the usual three party labour,conservative,liberal .these all sing from the same songsheet they are ready to sell us even deeper into federal europe and enslave us even more.lets go it alone and take our chances out of europe.
Well done to Ivan Lewis for speaking out but its to late.British people can never trust Labour again.
This government liste.????YOUR HAVING A LAUGH.Our governments will not listen to the voters now we are being controlled from europe.....we have a dictatorship(europe) until we get out of it nothing will change.