Burnham rules out Scottish independence vote and offers SNP 'deeper devolution' in first major speech north of the border

Andy Burnham used his first major speech in Scotland since entering Downing Street to flatly rule out a second independence referendum, telling First Minister John Swinney 'my view won't be changing' while extending an olive branch on devolution. Speaking at New College Lanarkshire in Motherwell, the Prime Minister offered to devolve DWP employability powers to Scottish regions and said he wanted to 'move on from the old politics of conflict'. Critics rounded on Burnham for urging Scots to 'move beyond constitutional questions' at the very moment he is actively reviving Brexit rows and has failed to rule out a future Labour manifesto pledge to rejoin the EU. An MRP poll by Electoral Calculus published today projects Labour would win a majority with 353 seats if an election were held now, with Reform UK on 81 seats.

Burnham called Scotland 'one of the most centralised nations in Europe' and urged power to flow down from Holyrood to local communities, not just from Westminster to Edinburgh.

Scottish Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn said his government would 'take and run with' Burnham's good ideas — but immediately demanded an independence referendum as the real shortcut to devolving power.

Andrew Neil warned Burnham is already proving 'a dud who's not up to being Prime Minister', saying the early goodwill from Labour faithful and the media masks serious doubts about his capabilities.