Christopher McKeon, David Hughes, George Lithgow and Craig Paton, Press Association
Andy Burnham said he wanted to “move beyond the old politics of conflict” as he offered to work with the SNP to deepen devolution in Scotland.
The Prime Minister used his first major speech north of the border since entering No 10 to offer an olive branch to John Swinney, saying he wanted to work together on giving more power to local communities.
Describing Scotland as “one of the most centralised nations in Europe”, he said he wanted the country to benefit from the same opportunities offered by his drive to devolve more power to English regions.
He said: “I want to make a serious and genuine offer to the Scottish Government. I want to move on from the old politics of conflict.”
Speaking in Motherwell, he said he wanted to design a new model of “regional, economic empowerment” across Scotland, including an offer of devolution from the Department for Work and Pensions.
That would mean “localised employment support”, similar to the one in England but shaped by the government in Holyrood and not necessarily based on the same mayoral model.
And he suggested such a deal could pave the way for further, “deeper” devolution, saying: “The English experience is it makes sense to put more transport powers in those places, put more housing powers in.”
Speaking to journalists after the Prime Minister’s speech, 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 number seven on the list.
“The SNP has been calling for these powers to be devolved to Scotland since the Smith Commission and, interestingly, the First Minister sent a letter to the Prime Minister on Monday, where he outlined a number of points that he would like to see engagement on,” Mr Flynn said.
“This was number seven on that list, so we’ll of course engage with the Prime Minister fully in respect of his announcement today.”
But Mr Burnham appeared to rule out the possibility of another independence referendum, saying politicians need to “move beyond the constitutional questions” and “focus on solutions for people right now”.
He said: “Too much time is wasted on those dramas, it consumes too much energy.
“Get into things that can make a difference in people’s lives now.”
Co-operation
Ahead of Mr Burnham’s speech, Mr Swinney told journalists he would “of course” take the Prime Minister up on his offer of co-operation.
He said he had a “track record” of “working to make sure as many powers as possible are exercised here in Scotland” and would “work constructively to make sure we bring all those powers to Scotland”.
Speaking during her own visit to Scotland on Friday, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “I think both John Swinney and Andy Burnham want to talk about more powers for politicians rather than actually a better life for the people of Scotland.
“What are they doing to increase jobs, what are they doing to improve people’s living standards? Absolutely nothing.
“Instead they are talking about more powers. This is jobs for the boys.
“What Andy Burnham should be talking about is granting new oil and gas licences in Aberdeen.
“Let’s get some jobs for the people in that city, they have been struggling, they are frustrated with Labour and with the SNP.
“They have got no answers for Aberdeen or anywhere else in Scotland, all they care about is more powers for themselves, more jobs for the boys.
“I’m not interested in that conversation, I am interested in how we make people’s lives better.”
Jollies
She also hit out at the Prime Minister, claiming he only comes to Scotland for “jollies”.
“It is very nice to be at Balmoral I am sure, it is very nice to be at the Commonwealth Games, but at the end of the day you have got to show people you are working hard for them.
“I am in Glasgow today because I want to talk about family businesses in Glasgow, I was in Edinburgh yesterday talking to the financial sector.
“And I am in Aberdeen all the time because I care very much about what is happening to that city.
“Andy Burnham thinks that the north stops at Manchester.”
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