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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Labour leadership hopefuls want 'more autonomous' Wales | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Labour leadership candidates Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall have said the party's Welsh and UK branches must work together. | |
| Mr Burnham told BBC Radio Wales he had asked the first minister to lead a "constitutional convention" looking at the relationship between the UK Labour party and Welsh Labour. | Mr Burnham told BBC Radio Wales he had asked the first minister to lead a "constitutional convention" looking at the relationship between the UK Labour party and Welsh Labour. |
| But he rejected the idea of a more federal structure. | But he rejected the idea of a more federal structure. |
| Ms Kendall pledged to introduce much closer working if she wins. | |
| She was speaking in the Senedd after holding talks with the first minister. | |
| Ms Kendall said focusing on Wales was as much a priority for her as the south of England, and Scotland, where the party suffered heavier losses. | |
| She said: "We have a huge amount to learn from what Carwyn Jones and other Welsh assembly members are doing here. | |
| "I think we need a much closer working between the Welsh government and Labour in future." | |
| Mr Burnham said it would be wrong for the party to have different "messages" in different parts of the country. | |
| Earlier this month, the Welsh government Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews renewed his calls for Labour to move to a federal structure that would give more autonomy to the Welsh and Scottish Labour parties. | Earlier this month, the Welsh government Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews renewed his calls for Labour to move to a federal structure that would give more autonomy to the Welsh and Scottish Labour parties. |
| He tweeted: "I really don't care who English Labour choose #federallabournow." | He tweeted: "I really don't care who English Labour choose #federallabournow." |
| Mr Burnham said: "I think it would be a mistake to start saying 'oh we speak to this group of votes over here with this message and a different message over here'. | Mr Burnham said: "I think it would be a mistake to start saying 'oh we speak to this group of votes over here with this message and a different message over here'. |
| "In Wales, I think I saw similar factors that were in play in England [at the general election]. | "In Wales, I think I saw similar factors that were in play in England [at the general election]. |
| "People [were] going to UKIP because perhaps they had doubts about our record on immigration and leaving Labour for that reason." | "People [were] going to UKIP because perhaps they had doubts about our record on immigration and leaving Labour for that reason." |
| 'Stronger role' | 'Stronger role' |
| On the UK party's relationship with Welsh Labour, Mr Burnham said the Labour party needed to get the right relationship between the two. | On the UK party's relationship with Welsh Labour, Mr Burnham said the Labour party needed to get the right relationship between the two. |
| "That's why I've asked Carwyn Jones to lead a UK constitutional convention to really look at these questions in detail," he said. | "That's why I've asked Carwyn Jones to lead a UK constitutional convention to really look at these questions in detail," he said. |
| "What is the right balance across the UK between the UK role and then a stronger Welsh role? | "What is the right balance across the UK between the UK role and then a stronger Welsh role? |
| "I want to see a more autonomous Wales within a stronger UK. | "I want to see a more autonomous Wales within a stronger UK. |
| "I want... Labour not always looking grudging on devolution and being dragged to positions. | "I want... Labour not always looking grudging on devolution and being dragged to positions. |
| "I think we now need to get on the front foot and I hope Carwyn's going to help us do that." | "I think we now need to get on the front foot and I hope Carwyn's going to help us do that." |
| Ms Kendall added that she wanted to be a leader "working in strong partnership with Carwyn and Labour people around the country", and that the way Wales is funded needed to be looked at. | |
| She said: "As we change the constitution and devolve more power and control, we need a fair funding formula in Wales, Scotland and England too. | |
| "That is essential if we are to make sure the Welsh assembly has the power and the responsibility to improve people's lives." |