"Certainly we know from our own experience how very difficult it is when you've lost an election that perhaps a lot of people were expecting you to win"

In this quote, Patricia Hewitt is revealing compassion for the frustration someone might feel when they lose an election they were anticipated to win. She acknowledges the difficulty of such a loss, especially when many people had high expectations for the outcome. This sentiment likely shows the emotions and difficulties that come with experiencing political defeat. It could also act as a suggestion of the significance of being thoughtful in defeat and acknowledging the efforts of all involved in the political process, no matter the result.