Andy Burnham avoids discussing independence referendum during Scotland visit
Andy Burnham has signalled he does not want to discuss the prospect of a second independence referendum with First Minister John Swinney during his visit to Scotland, reports BritPanorama.
The two leaders are set to convene on Thursday, marking their first face-to-face meeting since Burnham became Prime Minister on Monday. This meeting follows a phone conversation earlier in the week, where Burnham reportedly dismissed the idea of another independence vote.
A UK Government source indicated that Burnham told Swinney they would have to “agree to disagree” on the matter. Despite this divergence, Burnham, who has expressed a desire to devolve more powers across the UK, is understood to be committed to collaborating with the Scottish Government to foster a “new kind of politics.”
However, Swinney has already indicated his reluctance to work with Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, a figure Burnham chose to retain in his cabinet. The First Minister prefers to engage directly with Burnham, having accused Alexander of souring relations between the UK and Scottish governments.
The UK Government has stated that Burnham would outline how he plans to work “collaboratively” with devolved governments “based on a genuine partnership.”
Burnham emphasised his focus on practical measures rather than constitutional changes, stating: “When I say we need good growth in every postcode, I mean every postcode across the whole of the UK. Every place and every person matters.” He further committed to assisting families with the cost of living by removing VAT from electricity bills.
Burnham will arrive in Glasgow on Thursday to watch the opening ceremony for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where he will be joined by the King and Queen. He is also expected to meet with the First Minister of Wales, Rhun ap Iorwerth, who expressed hopes for parity of powers and a funding model that reflects Welsh needs.
Mr Burnham’s visit contrasts with the approach of his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, who chose not to campaign in Scotland during the Holyrood election. Scottish Labour figures have attributed the party’s poor results in those elections to Starmer’s leadership.
In a strategic move, Burnham is poised to make Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar a minister, a decision that would lead Sarwar to leave the Scottish Parliament to join the House of Lords.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister is expected to meet with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland during his tour of the UK in August, which will emphasize engagement across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and England.
