Labour report recommends giving Senedd ‘permanent constitutional independence’  

A report by Labour on reforming the union has recommended giving Wales “permanent constitutional independence”.

The lengthy document called Remaking the British State was commissioned by former leader Corbyn, and calls for devolving more power across the UK.

It suggests reorganising the UK into federal state, overseen by a new “council of the union”, which replaces the House of Lords with an elected senate, alongside substantial new financial and policy powers for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The 234-page report overseen by the Labour peer Pauline Bryan, proposes UK-wide constitutional convention bolstered by citizens’ assemblies to investigate options for reform, as well as a written constitution that would greatly reduce the monarch’s powers.

It also recommends replacing the House of Lords with a federal senate of the nations and English regions, able to veto some legislation and ratify international treaties, as well as giving the Senedd, Scottish parliament, and Northern Irish executive permanent constitutional independence.

The report suggests devolving more borrowing and policymaking powers for Holyrood, including over postgraduate immigration, alcohol taxation, drugs policy and social security, as well as significant devolution of policymaking and financial powers to English regions and councils, including borrowing.