Keir Starmer calls for fully federal UK to 'repair the shattered trust in politics'
2 min read
Keir Starmer will promise to bring “power, wealth and opportunity” to the whole country if he becomes Labour leader by throwing his weight behind a federal system of government for the United Kingdom.
The Labour leadership contender will also call for a new written constitution to underpin the structure, developed through a major consultation with British communities.
Under the UK's current system of devolution, certain powers are delegated to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland's own administrations - but overall authority is centralised in Westminster.
In a federal system, however, states are separate from each other and hold equal authority, with constitutionally-protected powers for both regional and national governments.
Speaking ahead of a week of campaigning, the Shadow Brexit Secretary said: “We need to end the monopoly of power in Westminster and spread it across every town, city, region and nation of the United Kingdom.
“We have to end the status quo and put power, wealth and opportunity back into the hands of the people.
“We need a new constitutional settlement: a large-scale devolution of power and resources.
"This will involve building a new long-term political and constitutional consensus. I believe that could best be built on the principle of federalism.“
Sir Keir added: “We will only repair the shattered trust in politics by letting people take back control of the decisions that affect their lives.”
The Labour leadership hopeful - currently the bookies' favourite for the top job - is set to visit Scotland, England and Wales to hear views and talk about how the party can “put power, wealth and opportunity back into the hands of the people.”
Meanwhile other Labour leadership candidates are also calling for major constitutional reform, with Rebecca Long-Bailey suggesting scrapping the House of Lords.
It was also revealed last week that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering moving the House of Lords to York or Birmingham in a bid to move power out of London.
A constitutional review is set to be launched in the spring, with Tory party chairman James Cleverly telling Sky News last week that they are “looking at a whole range of options”.
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