Andy Burnham has invited John Swinney to work with him to help push more power out of both Westminster and Holyrood in a move that could potentially create more tension than cooperation.
The Prime Minister will be in Scotland today where he will accuse the Scottish Government of being one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe.
Mr Burnham will argue that the next stage of devolution should place more decision-making in the hands of Scotland’s regions and cities to drive re-industrialisation.
As part of that offer, he will call on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government through No10 North and the Scotland Office to develop a new model of regional empowerment for Scotland, ensuring communities with their own strengths, identity and ambitions can seize new economic opportunities and unlock their potential.
In a briefing note from Downing Street, Mr Burnham said: “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.”
Mr Swinney, who will address his party’s conference in Aberdeen tomorrow, is likely to insist that devolution of power within Scotland is for his government to decide. He has announced a shake-up of local government and health boards which will reduce their number in order to cut costs and duplication.
Mr Burnham used his own conference speech to highight Mr Swinney’s comment that he would be the last PM of the UK. Mr Swinney has since doubled down on his independence campaign.
The Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander said: “Devolution has done a great deal, but power was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament. People in North Lanarkshire, in Fife or in the Highlands know what their communities need better than any minister, whether they sit in London or Edinburgh.
“The Prime Minister’s offer to the Scottish Government is a genuine one, and the Scotland Office is ready to roll up its sleeves alongside them to make it happen. Two governments, one goal – good jobs and real opportunity in every corner of Scotland.”
A decision on the Jackdaw gas field is expected imminently, possibly on Monday. Mr Alexander claimed in a radio interview today that a decision has been held up because of the need to consider the “process”. However, it has been widely reported that it was delayed to avoid clashing with the Holborn & St Pancras by-election which the Green Party leader Zack Polanski contested.
Daily Business comment: As with visits of Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to Scotland, the Labour party has once again invited selected media only to the Prime Minister’s event in Lanarkshire. This is poor media relations and does little to support its claims to be reaching every postcode in Britain.
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