Scotland's Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has called on the UK Government to grant the Scottish people a referendum on independence, ahead of a scheduled meeting between First Minister John Swinney and incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham next week.
Meeting Confirmed After Burnham Becomes PM
Jenny Gilruth confirmed that First Minister John Swinney will meet with Andy Burnham after he is sworn in as the new UK Prime Minister. Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor who returned to Westminster last month as MP for Makerfield, will be confirmed as Labour leader in a special conference and enter Number 10 on Monday.
During his leadership campaign, Burnham emphasised devolution and proposed decentralising Westminster, including extending the prime minister's office to Manchester under the banner "Number 10 North."
Scottish Government Offers Good Faith
Speaking to the Press Association ahead of the conference, Ms Gilruth said the Scottish Government would work with Burnham in "good faith." She noted that Burnham would be Scotland's seventh Prime Minister in ten years, highlighting the instability Scotland has faced from the UK Government over the past decade.
"That's not been good for Scotland. It's not been good for the UK," Gilruth said. "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."
Call for Independence Referendum
However, Ms Gilruth argued that the "greatest devolution" Scotland could achieve would be independence, and she called on the UK Government to grant a referendum. It has been reported that Burnham would likely oppose another independence referendum.
"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," Gilruth said. She noted that the Scottish Parliament has returned a majority of independence-supporting MSPs, the largest number ever, and called on the UK Government to recognise this democratic mandate.
"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," she added.
Labour Response
Labour has been approached for comment on the Deputy First Minister's remarks.
