Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has called for a new Act of Union to "safeguard the UK for generations to come".

In a speech on Wednesday, leader Dugdale said that she believes devolution has been positive but erratic, leaving other parts of the UK behind.

The Labour leader is calling for a consitutional convention for the whole of the UK and will put the proposal t to her party's annual conference in February.

Speaking at the Institute for Public Policy Research in London, Dugdale said: "After more than 300 years, it is time for a new Act of Union to safeguard our family of nations for generations to come.

"More than two years on, those of us who fought for the UK shouldn't be embarrassed about winning - we should be proud. Deciding to remain part of the UK was the right decision then, as it is now.

"The time has come for the rest of the UK to follow where Scotland led in the 1980s and 1990s and establish a People's Constitutional Convention to re-establish the UK for a new age.

"The convention should bring together groups to deliberate on the future of our country and propose a way forward that strengthens the UK and establishes a new political settlement for the whole of our country.

"This is a convention that the Government should convene, and I have written to Theresa May today outlining Scottish Labour's desire to see this happen.

"However, if the government is not willing, as Gordon Brown has said, the opposition should convene a convention.

"Some may say this is unrealistic, but it would follow the model of the Scottish Constitutional Convention which, without Government support, established the basis for the settlement that delivered a Scottish Parliament in 1999.

"It would also - for the first time - provide a coherent approach to answering the question of how our country is best governed.

"While devolution has been positive for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we have to acknowledge that progress has been erratic and while there has been significant progress in some parts of the UK, other parts have been left behind."

Her speech was welcomed by the Scottish Liberal Democrats. The party has supported the creation of a federal UK for decades.

Party leader Willie Rennie said: "A new set of constitutional arrangements to replace the treaties of union was exactly what was proposed by Lord Campbell's commission on Federalism in 2012.

"It is good to see momentum building for this and hope that Kezia will work to convince those in her party that this is the best option."

"Federalism is Scotland's and the United Kingdom's best chance to flourish."

SNP MSP Linda Fabiani said: "If Labour are finally committed to more powers for the parliament then we look forward to their fulsome support as we make the case - as we always have - for a parliament with full powers.

"However, Labour have been promising a supercharged, powerhouse, federalism-max for years - and consistently failing to deliver it."

Scottish Conservatives criticised the Labour leader for talking about the constitution instead of the SNP's government's record.

The party's chief whip John Lamont said: "On the day we are learning about massive failures in the SNP's management of Scotland's schools and NHS, Kezia Dugdale declares that what we need right now is even more constitutional upheaval.

"Surely 10 years of SNP government obsessing over the constitution has taught us that this is the wrong priority.

"Kezia Dugdale has also today performed a complete u-turn on her previous position on Brexit; first backing a separate Scottish deal, now apparently opposing one.

"This only goes to show how Scottish Labour has lost its bearings on the constitution.

"Scotland's best interests are served by remaining part of the United Kingdom, and Brexit has done nothing to change that."