cotland ought to have “as shut as you will get” to house rule, Higher 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 “fully 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 satisfy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon throughout his go to to Scotland, however didn’t hear again from her workplace.
He additionally spoke about his dispute with the Scottish Authorities over Covid journey guidelines, saying the way in which the journey ban was imposed in the course of the pandemic was an instance of “the Scottish Nationwide Celebration 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 fully 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.
“You need to have a a lot better various subsequent time and that for me is a very rewired Westminster the place I’d say a proportional illustration for the Commons, a Senate of the nations and areas elected to interchange the Home of Lords.
“Far more devolution out of the entire thing, as shut as you will get to house rule for Scotland I’d 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 Higher 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 achieved with none notification or dialogue together 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 anticipate the Tories to deal with the north of England with contempt, however that was the Scottish Nationwide Celebration 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 satisfy the First Minister whereas I used to be right here and I haven’t had a reply.”
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