Overview
- The new prime minister spoke to Scotland’s first minister by phone on Tuesday and publicly both offices said the call was constructive and focused on cost-of-living and energy bills.
- Downing Street made clear Burnham is not planning to pursue another independence referendum and a UK Government source said he told Swinney they would have to “agree to disagree.”
- Anonymous UK sources told reporters Burnham “slapped down” the indyref2 demand and registered his opposition strongly, a characterization not echoed in the official joint statements.
- A deeper policy split is opening over how to devolve power because Burnham favours shifting responsibilities to cities and regional bodies while the Scottish Government wants more powers moved to Holyrood.
- SNP figures have criticised Burnham’s decision to keep Douglas Alexander as Scottish Secretary and that personnel dispute is likely to add friction to relations and shape how future talks progress.