Labour MP Ian Murray supports calls for a more federalised United Kingdom during the party’s Scottish conference in Perth.

Party backs Kezia Dugdale’s idea of more power for devolved areas

Kezia Dugdale said there is a “legitimate case” for a federal option on any future independence ballot paper as her party made the constitutional system official policy.

Scottish Labour members backed their leader’s vision for a more federalised UK at its conference in Perth yesterday.

Ms Dugdale said it was a “historic moment” for the party, which will now seek the formation of a “People’s Constitutional Convention” to report back on a federal future for the UK by 2020.

During a debate on the proposals, former party chairman Bill Thomson backed a “fed-max” option on an Indyref2 ballot paper.

Responding in a fringe event, Ms Dugdale said: “I don’t want there to be another referendum, but if there was I could certainly see a legitimate case for putting something as strong as a federal solution for the UK on the ballot paper.”

The proposals, which would see greater powers for the UK’s devolved administrations as well as English areas, come after the party has haemorrhaged support to the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives over the constitution.

Ian Murray, Labour’s only MP, said Ms Dugdale’s vision offered a chance to “seize the mantle as the party of federalism”. He added the SNP has “absolutely no mandate for another Scottish independence referendum”, which Nicola Sturgeon has said is “highly likely” after the Brexit vote.

SNP MSP Linda Fabiani said Mr Murray is “denying reality” because voters supported the SNP’s manifesto position that an independence referendum is an option if Scotland faces being dragged out of the EU against its will.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said Labour’s “sleep-inducing plan for a People’s Constitutional Convention” amounts to “yet more upheaval to our precious union”.

Alistair Carmichael, the Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader, said Labour has finally come round after a “long, slow walk to federalism”.

In her keynote speech, Ms Dugdale will today say a Labour party she leads “will never support independence” .

Picture: PA. Kezia Dugdale on the platform at the Scottish Labour Party conference in Perth.