Andy Burnham urges Scots to ‘move beyond’ independence bid and ‘end the old politics of conflict’… at the same time as he’s reviving Brexit rows
Andy Burnham urged Scottish politicians to move beyond the independence debate and focus on practical issues, while reaffirming his support for Scotland remaining in the UK. He offered the SNP-led Scottish Government deeper devolution and called for more co-operation with London, arguing that constitutional disputes consume time and energy that could be spent on people’s immediate needs.
Speaking in Motherwell, Burnham cited the cost of living, public control of buses and opportunities for young people as areas for action. He did not rule out another independence referendum during his premiership, but said his view on the union would not change. Kemi Badenoch criticised the proposal as a waste of time, while critics pointed to a tension between Burnham’s call to move past constitutional rows and his push to reopen debate about Britain’s relationship with the EU.
- Burnham called for Scots to move beyond the independence debate.
- He offered deeper devolution and co-operation with the Scottish Government.
- Critics highlighted his simultaneous push to revisit Brexit and EU ties.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Burnham’s case is that constant argument over independence can crowd out practical work on living costs, transport and young people’s prospects. Offering more devolution and co-operation could give Scotland greater control while keeping shared UK institutions, and focusing on everyday concerns may help rebuild trust across political divides.
The case against
Critics can argue that constitutional questions shape who has power to address those practical concerns, so setting independence aside risks narrowing Scotland’s choices without resolving the underlying disagreement. Burnham’s firm support for the Union, alongside his openness to reopening debate about the EU, may also make his appeal to move beyond constitutional conflict seem selective and weaken confidence in his approach.