After a busy day, here are the headlines...

• Former PM Gordon Brown was commissioned by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to carry out a report outlining key proposals for change within the UK, external
• The pair delivered a news conference in Leeds this morning suggesting the House of Lords should be abolished, some 50,000 civil service jobs should move out of London and local leaders should have new powers

• The report also recommends extra powers for Scotland and Wales, with restored and strengthened devolution in Northern Ireland
• Starmer and Brown joined Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar in Edinburgh this afternoon to discuss how the new vision for Britain will affect Scotland

• The report proposes that the Scottish government should enter into international agreements and join international bodies in relation to devolved matters
• The SNP's deputy leader Keith Brown told the BBC the proposals appeared to be "the usual bat and switch we get from the Labour party in advance of an election, or more importantly in advance of a referendum"

• The report has been met with criticism by the incumbent government, which says Labour is "playing politics" while they're focusing on priorities such as the economy and immigration
• Tory MP Simon Clarke says Labour's plans to abolish the House of Lords are "utter stupidity" and Trade Minister Greg Hands says the opposition is "not fit for government".

That's all from the live page team today. Have a good evening.

Constitutional questionspublished at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2022

17:06 GMT 5 December 2022

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Labour’s aim here is to set out a clear and consistent policy that it can pitch to the electorate.

This is particularly important in a contest in Scotland which is dominated by the constitutional question.

In previous years the SNP have run as the party of independence, the Conservatives as the party of the union and Labour as the party of “wouldn’t you rather talk about something else?”

And to be clear, they will still want issues like health and housing and the cost of living to take precedence over talk of independence.

But for all the questions about the depth and detail of the proposals in this paper, it is a signal that Labour is now seeking to play an active role in the constitutional debate.

Anas Sarwar says the energy transition must be put front and centre of the economy.

The Scottish Labour leader again calls for "double devolution" and says it means "pushing power out of our parliaments and into the hands of local people".

Keir Starmer picks up on Gordon Brown's point about "economic clusters".

He says in every place of the UK, there is "innovation and brilliance" that hasn't been transformed - and he says he wants a Labour plan to be considered a turning point in history.

"We've got to be bold about what we push away from Whitehall," he says, adding that "those with skin in the game know what works best in their community."

Gordon Brown says the report highlights "nearly 300 economic clusters" around the country.

The former PM says they are all around the UK and need locally sensitive policies.

He says this is about changing the UK, making it more sensitive to local needs and making it deliver for people.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is asked how the report changes the debate between Yes and No in Scotland, regarding independence.

He says it breaks away from the impression, which he says is created by the SNP, that "anger and frustration only exists in Scotland". He says it exists in Liverpool, Birmingham and across the UK's regions - where Labour hope to push power towards.

Mr Sarwar says there is not a majority in favour of a referendum or independence in Scotland and nor is there a majority for the status quo - however he says there is a majority for change.

"We’re hungry for a general election," he says, adding that in Scotland, Labour no longer fears a general election.

Mr Starmer says the report makes an important compelling case for change across the whole of the UK and also in Scotland.

He says he thoroughly endorses Gordon Brown's comments, that the report sets out an alternative to creating change through Scottish independence.

He says if Labour wins the next election they will have a mandate to carry out changes which are "much more about the future than the past".

Keir Starmer tells the audience he has long-thought the thing holding up the UK is the "hoarding of power at the centre" in Westminster.

He says the Conservative government has failed to grow the economy sufficiently and has not used the talent and resources of the whole of the UK - including in Scotland.

As a result, if Labour win the next election, he says the party will inherit a UK with a badly damaged economy - and therefore says he wants Labour to be a party ready to deliver promises, rather than be at the stage of consulting on manifesto pledges.

If the SNP want to fight the next election with a "one-line manifesto" and it may want it to be a one-issue election, Labour will do the opposite, Mr Brown says.

He says Labour will fight on all the issues and show "the best way of standing up for Scotland, is by voting Labour and voting for Keir Starmer, the next prime minister of the United Kingdom."

The former PM says Labour want double devolution with less centralised power held in Edinburgh.

This will create a "stronger Scotland in a transformed United Kingdom", he says.

Brown insists there is now an alternative to independence. JHe says the debate is being changed within the UK, led by the Labour party.

Gordon Brown lists a number of policy pledges for Scotland and Holyrood, should the party win power at Westminster.

These include:

• A “legally binding” replacement for the Sewel Convention, the idea that MPs should only legislate across devolved areas with express consent from Holyrood
• Extra foreign affairs powers to allow Scotland to sign up to international groups and agreements such as the EU’s Erasmus student exchange scheme
• A consultation on increased borrowing powers for Holyrood
• Legal protection for MSPs against any court proceedings stemming from statements made in parliament
• A “solidarity clause” requiring each of the UK’s governments to work together.

"Corruption, cronyism, contracts to friends," continues Gordon Brown, referring to the Conservatives.

The former PM praises Keir Starmer for today's announcements on the future of the UK, with power moving out of Westminster all over the country.

Brown points to proposals for an ethics commission with the public having a role as a citizen's jury.

He says there will be reform of the second chamber and there will be a council of the nations and regions.

The whole job centre network will be devolved, he says.

Gordon Brown runs us through a history of devolution and Labour's part in it.

The former Labour PM says what Scotland has led in the last 50 years the rest of the UK will follow.

He says: "I think we Scots should play our part in building the Britain of the future."

Brown says his party failed to reform the centre of the UK and it failed to decentralise in crucial areas.

"Today we can rectify some of this," he says.

Gordon Brown welcomes Keir Starmer to Edinburgh.

"He is the leader that is pointing the way to a better future," he says.

The former PM has kind words for Anas Sarwar, saying he will be the next first minister of Scotland.

"This is a good day for Scotland," he adds.

Labour MSP Sarah Boyack gets proceedings under way in Edinburgh.

So Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has promised "the biggest ever transfer of power from Westminster to the British people" if elected.

Labour published a report , externalthis morning by former prime minister Gordon Brown setting out plans for sweeping constitutional change, including abolishing the House of Lords.

These proposed reforms to the British political system would "make the UK work for Scotland", Brown said.

Now Starmer and Brown are in Edinburgh, where they will be joined by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to focus on the Scottish proposals.

Just hit the play icon at the top of the page to watch the press conference.

If you're just joining us, here's the headlines:

• Former PM Gordon Brown was commissioned by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to carry out a report outlining key proposals for change within the UK, external
• The pair delivered a news conference in Leeds this morning suggesting the House of Lords should be abolished, some 50,000 civil service jobs should move out of London and local leaders should have new powers

• The report also recommends extra powers for Scotland and Wales, with restored and strengthened devolution in Northern Ireland

• The report proposes that the Scottish government should enter into international agreements and join international bodies in relation to devolved matters
• SNP's deputy leader Keith Brown told the BBC the proposals appear to be "the usual bat and switch we get from the Labour party in advance of an election, or more importantly in advance of a referendum"
• Starmer and Brown will join Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar in Edinburgh at 16:00 GMT to discuss how the new vision for Britain will affect Scotland
• It has been met with criticism by the incumbent government, which says Labour is "playing politics" while they're focusing on priorities like the economy and immigration
• Tory MP Simon Clarke says Labour's plans to abolish the House of Lords are "utter stupidity" and Trade Minister Greg Hands says the opposition is "not fit for government"

Labour's vision may require Scottish seats in Commonspublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2022

15:37 GMT 5 December 2022

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Labour is looking to the next general election, crafting a platform that it hopes can help win back power at Westminster – by spreading it out across the country.

Scottish seats could be key to that ambition. Past Labour prime ministers could rely on returning scores of MPs north of the border, but Sir Keir Starmer’s group includes only one.

The SNP also has big plans for that poll, with Nicola Sturgeon outlining a single-issue campaign on the topic of independence.

A Labour revival could pose a challenge to the first minister’s “de facto referendum” idea – hence why she is working up electoral messages of her own, painting her red rivals as a Tory-lite midwife of Brexit.

All of that means the campaign in Scotland is going to have a constitutional focus, and Sir Keir knows its vital Labour has a consistent and convincing policy to pitch on the doorsteps.

This needs to have a broad appeal beyond the binary question of independence, given his party needs to regain votes lost to both the SNP and Tories since the 2014 referendum.

From control of the Commons to the future of a nation – if it forms the cornerstone of the next Labour manifesto, there could be a lot riding on Mr Brown’s blueprint.

Image source, GETTY IMAGES

Labour's devolution report, external will do nothing to halt the momentum for independence, according to the Scottish Greens.

The Greens are part of the Scottish government with the SNP. They share an aspiration for Scottish independence.

The party’s co-leader Patrick Harvie, who is also a government minister, said: "After years of promises and vows on devolution, it is clear that Labour are just reheating the failed ideas of the past.

“What they are offering will do nothing to protect Scotland from hostile UK governments, and that’s why it won’t halt the momentum for Scottish independence.“

Kevin Schofield, political editor of Huffpost UK, tells BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live he does not think it is a coincidence that Labour's paper is "vague".

He says Labour don't want to be pinned down on specifics at the moment and are so far ahead in the polls "that they don't want to scare the horses".

It's difficult to attack the party over proposals to reform the House of Lords or devolve more powers, he says.

"I'm not entirely sure that it's a priority right now as far as the people are concerned."