Andy Burnham urges John Swinney to 'put politics aside' to give Scots regions more powers

The Prime Minister promised to bring about “the next stage of devolution” as he meets the First Minister at the National Economic Council (NEC) alongside the Welsh first minister and representation from Northern Ireland.

It comes just weeks after he invited the SNP Government to work together to put “power back in the hands” of Scottish regions.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Burnham said: “Through No 10 North, we are rewiring the state. I want to make sure every city and region in the United Kingdom is part of that.

“Today I’ll be making an offer to the governments of each nation. Put politics aside and work in partnership with the UK Government to develop models of regional empowerment that ensure communities can use their own strengths to unlock their potential.

“This is the next stage of devolution. Together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister used his first major speech north of the border since entering No 10 to offer an olive branch to Scotland’s First Minister 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 also offered devolution from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) over benefits.

He said during a speech at a New College Lanarkshire in Motherwell: "During my first week in office, I told the first minister that I wanted to work with him to spread opportunities to communities across Scotland's regions and cities.

"Through No10 North, we are rewiring the state and I want to make sure regions in Scotland are fully part of this.

"This is me making an offer to the Scottish government. With us working together, there is no limit to what we can achieve for the Scottish people."

It comes as the Scottish Government is revamping Scotland’s local authotities.

The 32 councils will be replaced with six regional authorities which would have powers over economic growth and education.

There will be between 120 and 160 community authorities below that. They would have powers over local issues like licensing and town centres.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, who will also be attending the summit, said: “It's fitting this National Economic Council meets in Glasgow, a city that could benefit from more power and resources being put in its hands. That’s the opportunity in front of us today.”

“As the Prime Minister has made clear, devolved power must be used effectively, not held at the centre. Devolution reached Holyrood, but too much of it has stayed there.

“Andy has made a genuine offer to the Scottish Government to work with them on decentralising power in Scotland, including how employment support could be delivered locally. I hope the First Minister will consider that offer constructively. Working together, we can make change that people can see and feel."

First Minister John Swinney said that the meeting in Glasgow was “an opportunity to turn words into action”.

Mr Swinney said: “The National Economic Council provides an opportunity for the Prime Minister to turn words into action by engaging constructively with Scottish Government proposals to help grow our economy.

“The Prime Minister has made devolution a central focus for his government, however the UK Government must ensure that any devolution proposals respect devolution in Scotland. That means working with the Scottish Government.

“The Scottish Government has put forward substantive proposals to the UK Government on areas where further devolution would help grow Scotland’s economy and I will press the Prime Minister, and his government, to work with us to deliver those proposals.”

The meeting will not be attended by Northern Irish first minister Michelle O’Neill or deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly after the latter blocked them from fulfilling engagements over a parading dispute.

It comes after Ms O’Neill and several of her party colleagues being investigated by police for participating in an allegedly unlawful protest on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown last month.

The protest was staged as part of efforts to prevent a contentious Orange Order parade proceeding down the predominantly nationalist road from nearby Drumcree Church.

Ms O’Neill, who last week attended a police station for interview, has defended her presence at the protest as the “right thing to do”.

Mr Burnham’s last visit to Scotland, in the middle of the month, came during the SNP’s conference in Aberdeen.

This is only the third time he has been north of the border since becoming Prime Minister in the summer.

Despite saying previously that a second Scottish independence referendum would be “off limits”, the PM indicated in September that one could be held if there was enough public support.

He said the situation in Scotland was “exactly the same” as Northern Ireland” where a border poll has to be considered when public opinion supports one.

But he added: “I am not aware that there is a majority of public support for another referendum and until that changes there won't be one.”

He later repeated his line that IndyRef2 was “off limits” in a meeting with Mr Swinney.

Asked on his last visit whether devolving power more locally in Scotland would make independence more or less likely, the prime minister said: "I don't want to be the last PM of the UK.

"I just feel we all have to move beyond the constitutional questions.

"In my view, people in Scotland are suffering from the cost of living crisis, like they are in England and everywhere else, and I think our job is to focus on the practicalities, to focus on solutions for people right now."

He added: "Too much time is wasted on those dramas, it consumes too much energy."