Swinney rejects Burnham’s claim Scots feel distant from Holyrood

John Swinney has rejected Andy Burnham’s claim that parts of Scotland feel as distant from Holyrood as they do from Westminster.

The First Minister said the Labour MP is not in a “strong position to lecture” him, describing his comments as “polemics”.

The SNP leader also said he does not agree with the idea of creating mayors in Scotland, similar to the role Burnham held before his election to the Commons.

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Burnham, who looks set to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister this month, has pledged to increase devolution across the UK with plans for a “Number 10 North” to redistribute power.

“Its job will be to make power flow into places like Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Paisley and Easterhouse, not hold it back,” he said.

In a speech earlier in the week, the former Manchester mayor said people in Dundee and Bangor “feel just as distant from Holyrood and the Senedd as they do from Westminster”.

But asked about the comments on Wednesday, Swinney told the Press Association: “I don’t agree with them that areas feel distant from Holyrood.

“The city of Dundee just re-elected SNP members of the Scottish Parliament and the Labour Party got terrible results in the city.

“I don’t really think Andy Burnham is in a strong position to lecture me about all of these questions.

“I think rather than offering us these polemics, if Andy Burnham is going to become the prime minister, he should have a substantive discussion with the Scottish Government and me about how we empower and strengthen the powers of the Scottish Parliament, and I’ll be a willing partner in doing that.”

Swinney said he had already proposed to “shift power” to parts of Scotland to ensure “there’s more economic scope for action in different localities”.

He urged Burnham, if he becomes prime minister in the coming weeks, to devolve more economic, welfare and energy powers.

The First Minister promised to “work constructively” with No 10 but said Burnham must “turn his rhetoric into reality”.

He added: “He’s spent years telling us that Whitehall doesn’t work, that Westminster is broken, and that means he’s got to devolve more powers to the Scottish Parliament, and in that respect, I’ll be a willing partner in making sure that’s the case.”

Swinney also said he does not want to see elected mayors in Scotland.

“What I agree with is having empowered and strong local authorities, as we have in Scotland. I want to make sure they’ve got more power and more scope to increase economic performance in individual localities.”