SNP urges Burnham to give ‘straight answers’ on Downing Street plans

The SNP has urged Andy Burnham to give “straight answers” on what his plans are if he takes over as prime minister.

The former Manchester mayor, who won the Makerfield by-election last week, is the leading candidate to take over from Sir Keir Starmer, who announced on Monday he would stand down.

No other candidate has yet announced they will stand, meaning Burnham could be chosen without a contest if he secures enough support when nominations close on July 16.

But the SNP’s Westminster leader, Dave Doogan, has pushed for Burnham to lay out his programme, particularly on the UK’s fiscal rules, re-joining the EU and paving the way for Scotland to hold a second independence referendum.

“Andy Burnham and his allies have been successful in the choreography of removing a prime minister, but choreography isn’t change,” Doogan said.

“The only thing people really know from the last few weeks is that Andy Burnham loves U-turning every bit as much as Keir Starmer.”

“Until now, people have been deliberately left in the dark as to what Andy Burnham will actually change when this likely political coronation takes place.

“It is now time that Andy Burnham put that right and actually gave some straight answers on what he intends to deliver as prime minister.

“Burnham will only pass the test of change if he delivers a bold change of direction from the failure of this UK Labour Government.

“That means ripping up the straitjacket of the Tory fiscal rules which Keir Starmer kept, reversing the madness of Brexit and re-joining the European Union, and finally respecting the democratic rights of countries in the UK to determine their own future.

“Less than two years ago, the Labour Party promised people change – two years later they are making exactly the same promise.”

Burnham’s team has been contacted for comment.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, who has backed Burnham’s bid for Downing Street, said he would “set out his thinking if he becomes prime minister”, but added: “We have been very clear that we oppose independence.

“We oppose an independence referendum, and I think, frankly, the huge appetite, not just in Scotland, but across the UK, is that we need to leave behind decades of constitutional division and instead focus on delivery.”