DEVOLUTION is not an “academic” matter — it has very real consequences for people in Wales. We have a lot to be proud of: for the last 22 years Wales has had a Labour-led government which has retained a largely publicly owned NHS and maintained free prescriptions.

In 2015 our Wellbeing of Future Generations Act encouraged the bill allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in Welsh elections. Wales is also developing an inclusive, largely foundational, economy taking a social partnership approach, promoting fair work and safeguarding workers’ rights.

Our 2017 Trade Union (Wales) Act gives further protection to workers in Wales in devolved sectors.

This is, however, being done against the background of serious underfunding of Wales over decades and a Tory government determined to ride roughshod over the devolution settlement and recentralise power in Westminster.

Brexit legislation and the Internal Market Act undermine the devolved nations, trying to spark a race to the bottom and threaten the high standards on workers’ rights, agriculture and the environment that we hold dear in Wales.

It comes as no surprise that Welsh government has stated its intention to take legal action against the UK government on the Internal Market Act.

Westminster’s attempts to bypass the Senedd with the Levelling Up and Community Renewal funding further exposes their contempt for devolution.

The process is a complete shambles. Funding is limited, not properly targeted, excludes deprived areas and shows their complete lack of understanding of the real priorities for us in Wales.

There is a clear appetite for change in Wales with a growing movement for independence. Membership of the pro-independence group, Yes Cymru, has ballooned from 2,000 to over 17,000 over the past 12 months — many of them young people — fuelled in part by the UK government’s disregard for the devolved nations as well as the brutal impact of austerity on Wales.

To date the debate has been dominated by two opposing and ill-defined standpoints: independence versus the status quo.

A third option, called “radical federalism” is gaining traction which I, along with many in the Labour Party in Wales including the First Minister Mark Drakeford, support.

At its core lies a commitment to the decentralisation of power with the aim of delivering power, wealth and opportunity back into the hands of people and communities, underpinned by the core values of democracy, fairness, justice, climate stability and equality.

It is fundamentally important that this is underpinned by socialist values. It isn’t just about the redistribution of political power — it must also be about the redistribution of economic power. Greater devolution should be about enabling us to build a society where no child goes hungry, no mother has to choose between heating and eating.

But I differ from the pro-independence argument that says “if Wales is poor it’s after centuries of being part of the Union.” That, in and of itself, is too simplistic a response.

Wales, and Scotland and regions in England, including people in parts of the wealthier south-east, are poor because we live in a society that puts profit before people and works for the benefit of the few not the many.

Considering how we achieve change is essential. We need to grasp the nettle and explore and discuss the options before us and what is best for the people of Wales.

While for me retaining an equal partnership of nations within the UK is the way forward, maintaining the unity of workers and promoting progressive policies on, for example, the economy and the environment across the UK, the debate must be an open and inclusive one, which builds a movement for change.

We need to reach out and engage with a diverse range of political, civic and progressive organisations to develop a new reform agenda for a future radical-federal UK.

Underpinning this must be our commitment to stand up and campaign against the damaging policies of this regressive Tory government. We need that clear, radical red action now more than ever as we fight to give future generations across the UK a fairer, greener, socialist future.

Beth Winter is MP for Cynon Valley.