Kezia Dugdale to push for federal UK at party conference

Kezia Dugdale - photo credit: Iain Gray

Kezia Dugdale will today announce plans to push Labour into support of federalism, using a speech in London to argue for a ‘People’s Constitutional Convention’.

Speaking at University College London the Scottish Labour leader will announce plans for a policy motion in support of federalism at party conference next week.

The motion, which will be voted on by delegates in Perth, says: “Conference believes that a [constitutional] convention will lead to a renewed partnership between Scotland and the other nations of the United Kingdom based on a progressive federal structure for the UK.”

Dugdale will argue the convention, reporting before the next UK General Election, could offer a solution to the referendums on independence and the EU.

Speaking ahead of her keynote speech, the Lothians MSP said: “The historic mission of the Scottish Labour party has been to ensure that wealth is redistributed fairly across our country, that power should be widely shared and that decisions should be taken close to people so as to ensure that the views of working people are represented in our country.”

She will also use the speech to re-iterate Labour’s opposition to independence, ahead of a potential push by the SNP for another referendum.

“We are firmly opposed to a second independence referendum. We believe that together we’re stronger. Today our country is deeply divided, not just by constitutional politics but by economic inequality,” she said.

“So to restore faith in our politics, build a more united society and create an economy that works for working people, I believe that we need to create a more federal UK.

“There should be a People’s Constitutional Convention, made up of citizens from across the United Kingdom, which should report before the next UK General Election. I believe we need a new Act of Union to save our Union for generations to come.”