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.”