Andy Burnham, widely expected to be the next leader of the UK Labour Party, has ruled out any possibility of a second independence referendum in Scotland. Burnham informed Scottish Labour MPs during a meeting last week that he is "not willing to consider" granting the Scottish National Party (SNP) an opportunity to hold another vote on Scotland's secession from the United Kingdom.
Sources present at the meeting, which included approximately 25 of Labour's 36 Scottish MPs, indicated that Burnham was unequivocal in his stance against a new constitutional vote, even in the context of his recent pledges for greater devolution of powers to regions within the UK. One attendee described Burnham as "crystal clear that it is not something he is going to be considering."
Burnham has previously expressed ambitions for a "Number 10 North" initiative aimed at decentralizing power from London and into the North of England. He has also advocated for strengthening the powers of mayors. In a recent online Q&A, Burnham stated his desire for a "collaborative and pragmatic" relationship with devolved governments, suggesting that the offer to empower local areas should be extended to "all parts of the UK." He indicated plans to engage with the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to establish a framework for cooperation.
However, some political figures have questioned the implications of Burnham's devolution plans. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggested that Burnham's approach might involve passing problems to other regions. Scottish Conservative reader Russell Findlay expressed alarm at the prospect of granting more power to the SNP, citing their record.
Burnham's vision, as outlined in a recent article, involves "the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen," with "Number 10 North" serving as the "nerve centre of a rewired Britain." He mentioned support for key sectors in Scotland, such as energy and manufacturing, and empowering local leaders to strengthen communities. SNP MSP Ivan McKee, however, criticized these proposals as lacking detail.
This stance aligns with Burnham's past expressions of aversion to referendums. In 2020, amidst debates about a potential second EU referendum, he commented on the unsustainability of "referendum after referendum." He previously backed calls for a second EU vote, which led to accusations of indecisiveness. During his 2015 bid for Labour leadership, Burnham stated his opposition to nationalism, declaring that the party he would lead would "take the fight to nationalism wherever it is found."
Scottish First Minister John Swinney had recently indicated his intention to request a Section 30 order from Westminster, which would grant the necessary powers for a second independence referendum. This request follows a debate on the matter shortly after the Holyrood election.