Andy Burnham has quashed John Swinney’s hopes that the Prime Minister is sympathetic to a second referendum on Scottish independence.
Mr Burnham told MPs on Wednesday that both in Scotland and Northern Ireland a border poll would be considered if there was a clear consensus and public opinion had changed.
Nationalists were encouraged that his comments appeared to indicate a softening of Labour’s policy on independence.
The First Minister said they signalled an acceptance that majority support for independence in Scotland should trigger a new referendum.
He interpreted them as a “long-overdue acceptance of the reality that the people of Scotland will decide their own future”.
However, in his reply to Mr Swinney, the Prime Minister has made it clear that that no consensus exists and repeated his view that another referendum was off limits while he focuses on growing the economy and cost of living pressures.
He said Northern Ireland and Scotland have different historical experiences and distinct constitutional arrangements.
“In my remarks I was simply highlighting that there is no consensus for an independence referendum in Scotland and nor is there a clear basis to suggest that a majority of people in Northern Ireland presently wish to separate from the United Kingdom,” he said.
He pointed out that Labour’s 2024 election manifesto made it clear that the party does not support independence or another referendum.
“As I made clear to you personally when we met recently in Glasgow, independence and a referendum are off limits as it would take our focus away from growing the economy and helping families with the cost of living,” he said.
He concluded that he remained keen to work with Swinney and the Scottish government to ensure the UK is “rewired” to work for people.
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