Burnham offers Scotland deeper devolution from Holyrood
Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 16 Oct, 20:32 · Archive
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has offered to work with the Scottish Government to devolve more powers away from Holyrood to local communities. Speaking in Motherwell during his first major speech in Scotland since becoming Prime Minister, he described Scotland as 'one of the most centralised nations in Europe' and said he wanted to 'move beyond the old politics of conflict'.
Burnham proposed a new model of 'regional, economic empowerment' that would include devolution of employment support powers from the Department for Work and Pensions. This would offer 'localised employment support' shaped by the Scottish Government but not necessarily based on the same mayoral model used in England. He suggested such a deal could pave the way for 'deeper' devolution, noting that experience south of the border showed 'it makes sense to put more transport powers in those places, put more housing powers in'.
Scottish Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn said the First Minister had sent a letter to the Prime Minister this week asking for greater powers for Holyrood, with employability powers listed seventh on the request.
How it is being reported
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham offers 'devolution' olive branch to SNP'I want to make a serious and genuine offer to the Scottish Government'Edinburgh Live · 16 Oct, 19:59
- Andy Burnham in Scotland: PM calls for deeper devolution from HolyroodHe said devolution ‘was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament’The Scotsman · 16 Oct, 13:01
- Andy Burnham offers to work with John Swinney to push power out of HolyroodThe Prime Minister will say at an event in Lanarkshire on Friday that the Scottish Government is one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe.The Scotsman · 16 Oct, 05:00
In this story: Andy Burnham · John Swinney · Stephen Flynn · Scottish Government · Department for Work and Pensions · Scotland · Motherwell
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