cotland ought to have “as shut as you may get” to house rule, Larger Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has mentioned, whereas discussing a attainable second independence referendum.
Mr Burnham mentioned he was nonetheless against Scottish independence however mentioned the structure of the UK wanted to be “utterly rewired”.
He was interviewed by former Labour MSP Neil Findlay at an Edinburgh Fringe occasion on Tuesday.
Mr Burnham additionally advised the viewers he had requested to fulfill First Minister Nicola Sturgeon throughout his go to to Scotland, however didn’t hear again from her workplace.
The Scottish Authorities later mentioned this was not the case.
He additionally spoke about his dispute with the Scottish Authorities over Covid journey guidelines, saying the way in which the journey ban was imposed through the pandemic was an instance of “the Scottish Nationwide Social gathering treating the north of England with contempt”.
Mr Burnham mentioned being mayor for the final 5 years had given him “extra of a perspective on the Scottish independence debate”.
He mentioned: “This nation, the UK must be utterly rewired, there must be a redistribution of energy.”
He continued: “I perceive how, for Scotland, simply saying: ‘OK, the established order however with a bit extra devolution’ isn’t a solution if there’s to be one other referendum.
“It’s important to have a a lot better various subsequent time and that for me is a very rewired Westminster the place I might say a proportional illustration for the Commons, a Senate of the nations and areas elected to interchange the Home of Lords.
“Way more devolution out of the entire thing, as shut as you may get to house rule for Scotland I might say.”
Inside Scotland, he mentioned extra energy needs to be devolved from Edinburgh to native communities.
Setting out his constitutional views additional, he mentioned: “I by no means wish to see a border throughout the highest of the north of England and Scotland in my lifetime.”
I by no means wish to see a border throughout the highest of the north of England and Scotland in my lifetime
The Larger Manchester mayor later mentioned his dispute with the Scottish Authorities over the Covid journey ban imposed in the summertime of 2021.
He mentioned this was carried out with none notification or dialogue along with his workplace, including: “What message do individuals within the Scottish Authorities assume that despatched to individuals in our place? Mainly, ‘you’re not welcome’.”
He continued: “We count on the Tories to deal with the north of England with contempt, however that was the Scottish Nationwide Social gathering treating the north of England with contempt.”
Saying he was assembly with Glasgow council’s chief Susan Aitken on Wednesday, he added: “I requested to fulfill the First Minister whereas I used to be right here and I haven’t had a reply.”
A Scottish Authorities spokesman mentioned: “It’s factually incorrect to say that no reply was despatched to Mr Burnham’s assembly request.
“The First Minister’s workplace contacted Mr Burnham’s workplace the identical day the assembly request was acquired.
“Since then, in dialogue along with his workplace, an agenda has been agreed and dates recognized.
“The First Minister stays open to this assembly going down.”
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