Sir Keir Starmer takes Labour leadership campaign to Swansea with 'more radical devolution' message
Labour leadership candidate Sir Keir Starmer has said "as much as can be devolved, should be devolved" to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The shadow Brexit secretary visited Swansea on Thursday to meet with businesses and activists as part of his campaign for leadership.
Sir Keir said the Labour party must build a "credible" and "radical" programme for the next general election.
He said: "We've got to turn the political model on its head if you like - have much less power in Westminster and Whitehall, put that power across the whole of the United Kingdom.
"That means more devolution, radical devolution. It also needs a federal solution so that we're feeding up, rather than coming from the top down."
Sir Keir said he believed a federal UK would build "solidarity across borders."
"This is about getting as much power and control out of Westminster and Whitehall as possible, but I'm not going to come here to Wales and pretend I have all the answers.
"I want to have the discussions, that's why I'm here today."
Monday marked Sir Keir’s first day back to campaigning since cancelling events last Thursday after his mother-in-law was admitted to intensive care following an accident last week.
The party suffered its worst election defeat since 1935 during the December poll, losing 59 seats overall.
It was the Conservatives' best Welsh election result since 1983 and their biggest gain came in Wrexham, a seat they won for the first time ever.
Rival Rebecca Long-Bailey also held a campaign event with members in Oxford on Monday as she looks to secure the final support she needs to make it to the final stage.
The shadow business secretary secured the nomination from Unite on Friday to add to her Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union backing, meaning she requires only one more nomination from a socialist group or trade union to ensure her name is on the ballot.
The Community union, which declared in favour of Sir Keir on Monday, came out in favour of shadow education secretary Angela Rayner for deputy leader.
It also urged members in constituency Labour parties (CLPs) to help ensure that Labour’s only MP in Scotland, Ian Murray, makes the final ballot for the deputy post.
Candidates are required to have won the nomination of three Labour affiliates, including at least two unions, which amount to at least 5% of affiliate members.
The only other route on to the ballot is by receiving nominations from at least 5% of CLPs.
Wigan MP Lisa Nandy has progressed to the final round, while shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry is still in search of enough backers to put her through.