UK LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer told the Welsh Labour conference on Saturday that his government will hand Wales back the power to spend replacement money for former EU structural funding.

He said: “The decision-making role for the Welsh government on structural funds, will be restored. It’s time for Wales to take back control.”

Before the United Kingdom left the European Union, the Welsh government administered £375m a year.

The replacement is the shared prosperity fund and, despite Tory promises not to leave Wales a penny worse off, this money is controlled by Westminster.

The UK party leader also referred Neil Kinnock’s speech after losing the 1987 general election.

“Remember that speech? He said: ‘I warn you not to be ordinary. I warn you not to be young. I warn you not to fall ill. I warn you not to be old’.

“Now, here in Wales, it’s fair to say you know the difference Labour can make better than other parts of Britain.”

First Minister Mark Drakeford declined to applaud when Sir Keir spoke about the changes made to the UK party, saying: “We had to make our Labour Party fit to serve our country.”

In a passage devoted to devolution, the UK party leader talked about a new way of doing politics and an overhaul of the Westminster system.

“No similar country puts so much decision-making in the hands of so few people,” Sir Keir said.

But despite his pledge to devolve economic power and control, he qualified it when he told delegates “sound money in our public finances must come first.”