Labour lost its connection with previously loyal voters at May's Senedd election, the party's leader has said.

Officials will publish on Saturday a review of Labour's historic election defeat in the May Senedd election.

Speaking to BBC Wales, Ken Skates said it was "absolutely obvious" that the party needed to rediscover its purpose and reconnect with people the "length and breadth of Wales".

Labour was thrown out of power at the election when it was reduced from 30 seats in the Welsh Parliament to nine.

It is holding its first party conference since Labour went into opposition, and Plaid Cymru took over the Welsh government.

After years of trailing Labour, Plaid won the largest number of seats, allowing party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth to become first minister.

Labour had led the Welsh government since devolution began 27 years ago.

Skates, who took over as leader following the election, said: "According to the review, it's absolutely obvious that we needed to rediscover our purpose".

He said the party needed to "strengthen" its "soul" and "reestablish that powerful contract between us as a movement in Welsh Labour and the people of Wales who share our values".

He said he could not disclose what the review, by Professor Anand Menon of King's College London, will say the day before conference.

"But I can say this - that people still believe that we share the fundamental values that they have and that they hold dear."

Asked what he stood for as leader, Skates said: "My passion has always been quite fundamental that no young person should be left behind because of disadvantage when growing up, that every person in life should have the best opportunity to succeed."

He said he and Prime Minister Andy Burnham "share a huge number of similarities".

"Catholic influences, strong community influence, we support the same football team, [we] went to the same university, we both enjoy running."

"I was determined to ensure that this review is dispassionate, independent and objective," he said.

"We don't have a version of the truth, we have the objective truth. And I would hope that no matter how tough it is, people will accept the findings and will be part of the movement that will build again."

Since becoming prime minister, Burnham has lobbied the Welsh government to devolve more powers to Wales' regions.

The policy has been criticised by some former Welsh ministers. Lee Waters, former transport minister, said it "just doesn't work" in a Welsh context.

The Plaid Welsh government has promised a green paper looking at the powers of councils, with legislation possibly after the next election in 2030.

Skates said people in Wales were telling the party they wanted more powers for their communities.

"We want more powers to come to the Senedd, to Cardiff Bay, but we also want more powers out of Cardiff Bay in our communities," he said. "That's what people want."

He said the review would make clear "about what people in Wales want most, which is more power in their communities."

Skates is expected to address the conference on Saturday.