Scotland can have IndyRef2 if public supports it, says Andy Burnham

The Prime Minister said Scotland is “exactly the same situation” as Northern Ireland - where a vote would be triggered if the UK Government minister thinks a majority of people want one.

It marks a change in tack, as he had previously said IndyRef2 was “off limits” - although he did say on Wednesday that the majority does not currently support one.

SNP First minister John Swinney said this was the first time since 2014 that a PM had “accepted that majority support for a referendum should mean one takes place.”

The issue came up at Prime Minister’s Questions in response to SNP MP Chris Law.

The Dundee Central MP said: "In response to my question last week, the Prime Minister stated he is aware of every word in the Good Friday Agreement, and will stick to it 100 per cent. He will therefore know the Northern Ireland Act contains a provision for a referendum for leaving the United Kingdom - but no equivalent provision exists within the law for Scotland.

"Does the Prime Minister recognise the people of Scotland have the same right, the equal right, to choose their own future and that the conditions for a second independence referendum should be set out in law?"

Mr Burnham responded: "He mentions the Good Friday Agreement and I will stick to it 100 per cent. And I would also remind him on that question of a border poll, it is to be considered by the Northern Ireland Secretary when there is a clear consensus in the country - when public opinion has changed to the point where the call has to be considered.

"I would say the exactly the same situation in Scotland. I am not aware there is a majority of public support for another referendum, and until that changes, there won't be one."

But afterwards Downing Street insisted there had been no change in the Prime Minister’s position.

Mr Burnham’s press secretary said: “The PM’s been repeatedly clear on this.

“In his call with the Scottish First Minister in his first week, the PM stated upfront that another referendum on independence was off limits and as our election manifesto makes clear, Labour does not support independence or another referendum.”

Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the Northern Irish Secretary can decide to hold a referendum at any time - if there has not been another border poll in the last seven years.

The act also imposes a duty on the Secretary of State to hold a border poll if it appears likely that a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for Irish unification.

SNP First Minister Mr Swinney said: “To go from ‘off limits’ to this is an acceptance of the reality that the people of Scotland will decide their own future – not the UK Government.

“For the first time since 2014, a British Prime Minister accepts that majority support for a referendum should mean one takes place.”