‘No clear consensus’ for second indyref, says Burnham

Andy Burnham says there is “no clear consensus” for a second indyref in Scotland and that the 2014 vote determined the matter “for a generation”.

The Prime Minister told STV’s Colin Mackay that a “clear resolution” was reached, stating now is not the time for another vote on whether Scotland leaves the UK or not.

Speaking from No 10 North, Manchester, Mr Mackay asked the Prime Minister if Scotland has the right to decide its future.

He replied: “There was a clear resolution reached and I don’t think now is the time to go back into that.

“The cost of living is the issue affecting most Scots.”

The Prime Minister was speaking at No 10 North (Christopher Furlong/PA)

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He added: “They have that right, but it was determined – the future was determined, I would say for a generation.

“It’s about where people are isn’t it? Things haven’t changed as far as I can see.

“There is no clear consensus so the important thing is no to focus on something that would be a matter of huge division, because there’s no clear consensus.

“The right thing to do is to focus on the cost of living, and also for me to invite the First Minister to No 10 North here, which I have done, as part of a national economic council, to discuss how can we help with further devolution and giving more power down to the city level, the the town level, and to the grassroots level.”

Mr Mackay then asked the Prime Minister if he is a unionist, to which he said: “The point I’m making is I support solidarity between the nations of the UK, I don’t support separation, I think Britain works better together.

“I support the union, I don’t think now is the time for another referendum.

“I don’t think public opinion in Scotland supports that because there isn’t a clear consensus, therefore it would just be divisive.

“It would take attention away from the cost-of-living crisis, which I would say is the main issue people need to focus on.

“I’m doing something next week.

“I’m taking VAT off electricity to help people with those pressures.”

A rally in support of Scottish independence outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)

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Following the interview, the SNP’s depute leader, Keith Brown MSP, commented: “It is welcome that the Prime Minister has once again said Scotland has the right to decide.

“A simple democratic concept that Holyrood, with the support of Scottish Labour, has endorsed too.

“The age of Westminster is coming to an end and we now need these very reasonable steps forward to be an agreed process.

“Through a fresh start with independence we can build a wealthier Scotland back home in the EU, that is a future that the Scottish people should be able to take forward at a time of their choosing.”

Snow-covered mountains behind Stirling Castle, Stirling (Andrew Milligan/PA)

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The Scottish Conservatives’ deputy leader, Rachael Hamilton MSP, accused the Prime Minister of “furiously trying to backtrack” on previous comments made on a second indyref.

She said: “Andy Burnham is now furiously trying to backtrack after opening the door to another divisive referendum.

“His naive remarks in the Commons emboldened John Swinney and other nationalist leaders to push their obsession with breaking up the United Kingdom.

“Pro-UK voters still won’t trust Burnham to be strong enough to stand up to Swinney and the SNP on this given some of his weak comments in these interviews.

“The Prime Minister must realise Swinney will not stop until he takes Scotland out of the Union.

“Scots want both of their governments focused on the cost of living, fixing our public services, instead of being bogged down in constitutional debates.

“Burnham must not hand the SNP opportunities to drag Scotland back to the arguments of the past, which is where Swinney wants to be to distract from his dismal record of failure.”