Summary

  • Labour leader Keir Starmer tells an audience in Edinburgh that he wants to see "a stronger Scotland within a changed United Kingdom"

  • In Leeds earlier in the day he told the BBC the House of Lords was "indefensible" and he would aim to abolish it if his party wins the next election

  • Starmer says it would be replaced by smaller, democratically-elected chamber representing the regions and nations of the UK

  • The events in Scotland and England focused on a report by ex-PM Gordon Brown suggesting a raft of recommendations to transfer power away from Westminster

  • Brown says Labour's proposals for change within - rather than outside - Britain will provide an alternative to people in Scotland who favour independence

  • The government says Labour is "playing politics" while they are focusing on priorities like the economy and immigration

  • Brown's report also proposes handing new economic powers to English mayors, local authorities and devolved governments

  • Labour says it will consult on all the proposals before deciding whether to put them in its manifesto

Live Reporting

Edited by Catherine Lyst

  1. 'People should be given a greater say'

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is asked about the details in the report.

    Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he says the "devolution of powers, of resources, to local areas" will create what he says Labour calls "clusters of economic activity".

    He says there are lots of different economic activities that can be spread across the whole of the country and people should be given a "much greater say over what happens in their area".

  2. 'Biggest transfer of power' - Starmer

    Sir Keir Starmer says he’s hoping to outline “the biggest transfer of power”.

    He says that if Labour forms the next government in the next couple of years, his party will have to "fix our economy and fix our policies".

    The report, due to be outlined in Leeds this morning, is not meant to be interpreted as an academic report, the Labour leader tells the BBC.

    Starmer says too much power is held in Westminster and in Whitehall.

    He adds that there are too many politicians in Westminster deciding what's best, and Labour's proposal outlines what the best path for change would be.

  3. Starmer speaking to BBC Breakfast

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning.

    Stay with us as we bring you the latest lines.

  4. What's new in the report?

    Labour Party leader Sir Keir StarmerJane Barlow/PA Wire

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is launching a report titled A New Britain in Leeds at 10:00 that proposes far-reaching reforms to the UK’s political system.

    As we've reported one of the most noteworthy proposals is scrapping the House of Lords and replacing it with an elected chamber, which some peers have warned against.

    There are also 40 other recommendations in the report, including proposals for handing new economic powers to English mayors, local authorities and devolved governments.

    Sir Keir is expected to hail the proposals for political and economic devolution as "the biggest ever transfer of power from Westminster to the British people".

    The report argues the "continuing over-concentration of power in Westminster and Whitehall is undermining our ability to deliver growth and prosperity for the whole country", creating a "vicious circle".

  5. What was Gordon Brown tasked with?

    Gordon BrownGetty Images

    Let’s get a bit of context. Last year, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked former PM Gordon Brown to lead a constitutional review into the future of the UK – and the Labour Party, should it win the next general election.

    Parts of the report were leaked in September, revealing some of Brown’s recommendations, with reports suggesting these include banning most second jobs for MPs and replacing the current House of Lords with a democratically elected upper chamber of nations and regions.

    As it stands, the majority of peers – members of the Lords, not elected by the public – are appointed by the King on the advice of a prime minister.

    How this works is explained here.

    Today’s news conference will see Sir Keir and Brown lay out the report’s findings for the first time.

    According to Labour, its main aims are to restore public trust in politics as well as give greater powers to local regions and the devolved UK nations (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

  6. Good morning

    Hello and thank you for joining us as we prepare to hear from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former PM Gordon Brown.

    They’re due to host a news conference in Leeds this morning about a constitutional review, led by Brown, which makes recommendations that could shape key policies in a future Labour government.

    Labour wants to abolish the House of Lords and replace it with a refreshed upper chamber.

    The report will also put forward 40 recommendations, which include proposals for handing new economic powers to English mayors, local authorities and devolved governments.

    However, the party says it will consult on the report’s proposals before deciding whether to put them in their next election manifesto.

    As for what else Brown has suggested, we’ll know more later. Stay tuned for live updates, analysis and reaction.