Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay claimed the ex-Manchester mayor was “clearly naive about the SNP’s obsession with breaking up the United Kingdom”.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham pictured in Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham has been branded “flaky” among unionists after appearing to open the door to a second Scottish independence referendum. Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Mr Burnham told SNP MP Chris Law that a fresh vote on Scotland leaving the UK could be considered if there was a “clear consensus” and “public opinion has changed to the point where the call has to be considered”.
Mr Burnham said: “The situation is exactly the same as that set out in the Good Friday Agreement for Northern Ireland. I am not aware that there is a majority of public support for another referendum and until that changes there won’t be one.”
The comments mark a striking shift from his previous hard line. Shortly after becoming Prime Minister in July, Mr Burnham told First Minister John Swinney that another independence referendum was “off limits”, insisting it would distract from growing the economy and tackling the cost of living. Labour’s manifesto also opposed both independence and a further vote.
John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister (Image: Getty)
First Minister John Swinney seized on the remarks, stating: “This is the first time since 2014 that a British prime minister has accepted that majority support for a referendum should mean one takes place. 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.”
Scottish Conservatives reacted with fury, accusing Mr Burnham of handing the SNP a “golden ticket” to Indyref2 and betraying Scottish voters who repeatedly rejected nationalism.
Shadow Scottish Secretary Harriet Cross said: “The Prime Minister has shown he is weak when it comes to defending the Union. By suggesting that Scotland and Northern Ireland are in the same situation, he has opened the door for the SNP to demand another independence referendum based on an opinion poll.
“The Good Friday Agreement contains specific, tailored provisions for Northern Ireland’s constitutional future based on its troubled past. There is no equivalent provision for Scotland.”
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay told the Scottish Daily Express: “The Prime Minister’s answer was flaky. As a cheerleader for English devolution, the ex-Manchester mayor is clearly naive about the SNP’s obsession with breaking up the United Kingdom. He just doesn’t get it. The last thing Scotland needs is more constitutional chaos and upheaval.”
Downing Street scrambled to row back, insisting there had been “no change” in the Prime Minister’s position. A spokesman reiterated: “The Prime Minister told Mr Swinney early on that another referendum was off limits, and Labour does not support independence or a further vote.”
Scotland voted No to independence by 55% to 45% in 2014. The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Holyrood cannot hold another referendum without Westminster’s consent.
Successive governments have refused a Section 30 order, but Mr Burnham’s parallel with the Northern Ireland framework has handed nationalists fresh ammunition at a time when some polls show support for independence hovering near or above 50%.
Unionist campaigners and Scottish Labour MPs privately expressed concern that the Prime Minister had walked into an SNP trap.