Burnham invites Swinney to work together on 'deeper Scottish devolution'

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has invited Scottish First Minister John Swinney to collaborate on expanding devolution to Scotland's regions, while explicitly stating that Scottish independence remains off the table for discussion.

Burnham, speaking at an event in Motherwell, proposed a new deal for regional economic development to begin within months. He offered to devolve powers from the Department for Work and Pensions to Scottish regional authorities. Burnham called on Swinney to cede further powers from the Scottish Parliament to local areas before that transfer occurs.

Burnham described Scotland as the most devolved nation in the UK but "one of the most centralised in Europe." He stated that devolution "was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament" when it opened in 1999, and was meant to be the "start of something deeper" where "communities had more of a say in their own future."

The Scottish government has outlined plans to replace Scotland's 32 local authorities with six new regional authorities, which would oversee major issues including economic growth and education. Between 120 and 160 community authorities would handle more local matters such as licensing and town centre improvements. Burnham acknowledged these plans but said reform must "move faster."

Burnham rejected imposing a devolution model matching England's metropolitan mayors, instead seeking agreement with devolved first ministers at a meeting scheduled for the end of the month. He explicitly rejected the prospect of a second Scottish independence referendum, telling Swinney it remains "off limits," contradicting an earlier statement he had made to MPs about a potential border poll.

When asked whether local devolution would make independence more or less likely, Burnham said: "I don't want to be the last PM of the UK. I just feel we all have to move beyond the constitutional questions." He added that "too much time is wasted on those dramas."

SNP Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn said the Scottish government would welcome economic power transfers. He noted that Burnham's devolution proposal was "number seven on" a list of engagement points Swinney had sent to Burnham on Monday.

First Minister Swinney said he was interested in "working constructively" with Westminster and was "all for the Scottish Parliament having as many powers" as possible.

UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the plan, calling it "more jobs for the boys" and urging Burnham to focus instead on granting new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.