Nicola Sturgeon, the former First Minister of Scotland, has voiced her support for Labour leader Andy Burnham, stating a desire for his success as Prime Minister.
During an appearance on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program, Sturgeon praised Burnham's politics and expressed hope that he would succeed for the benefit of the entire United Kingdom. "I think Andy Burnham, you know I’m not a Labour politician I think everybody knows that, but I find myself wanting him to do well, wanting him to succeed, because I think the entirety of the UK needs that to happen," she said. She urged Burnham to utilize his "enormous stock of political capital and goodwill" before it dissipates.
This sentiment comes shortly after John Swinney, a proponent of Scottish independence, suggested that Burnham could be the "last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom." Burnham himself has previously urged devolved leaders in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to "put politics aside and work in partnership with the UK Government."
Sturgeon also commented on the recent budget, stating that the "jury’s out" on its management by Burnham and Chancellor John Healey. She indicated that "public anger will pretty quickly kick in" if significant action does not follow.
In a separate matter addressed during the interview, Sturgeon criticized Chancellor John Healey for a televised appearance she felt lacked substance. She also expressed a wish for the Green party to overcome the "self-inflicted" damage caused by its stance that "Zionism is racism."
Meanwhile, a recent poll indicates that a majority of Scots do not believe Sturgeon's claims of having no knowledge of her husband Peter Murrell's embezzlement of SNP funds. Murrell was sentenced to over five years in prison for embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. Sturgeon has stated she was "utterly appalled" by his actions and had "no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever" of his misuse of party funds. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton criticized Sturgeon's willingness to comment on UK finances given her husband's conviction and the SNP's financial record in Scotland.