The Deputy First Minister of Scotland has called on the UK Government to “grant the Scottish people a referendum” as the First Minister and new Prime Minister are set to meet next week.
Jenny Gilruth confirmed that First Minister John Swinney will be meeting with Andy Burnham next week after he is sworn in as the new UK Prime Minister.
The former Greater Manchester mayor, who returned to Westminster last month as Makerfield MP, will be confirmed as Labour leader in a special conference and then enter No 10 on Monday.
In his pitch for the Labour leadership, Mr Burham focused on devolution and said he wanted to decentralise Westminster, including a strategy with the extension of the prime minister’s office to Manchester, to be called the “Number 10 North”.
Speaking to the Press Association ahead of the conference, Ms Gilruth said the Scottish Government would work with him in “good faith”.
She said: “Andy Burnham, I think, will be Scotland’s seventh Prime Minister in 10 years when he comes into office, which I think tells you something about the instability we’ve seen from the UK Government, regardless of party, over the past decade.
“That’s not been good for Scotland. It’s not been good for the UK. But look, Andy Burnham’s coming in. He’s promising that he wants to work with a devolved government, so he will find in us a willing partner, and we will take him at his word and work with him in good faith.”
However, Ms Gilruth said the “greatest devolution” Scotland could have would be independence as she called on the UK Government to grant a referendum.
It has already been reported that Mr Burnham would likely oppose another independence referendum.
Ms Gilruth continued: “The greatest devolution, of course, we could have to Scotland would be independence. And we believe in Scotland that the people should have a choice over the future of their country.
“And the people have returned a majority of independence supporting MSPs in Parliament, the largest number ever. And we think that now is the time for the UK Government to recognise that and grant the Scottish people a referendum.
“The Prime Minister will meet with the First Minister next week, and we look forward to working with the UK government, but recognising, of course, the democratic rights of the Scottish people.”
Labour has been approached for comment.
