Andy Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference

Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Andy Burnham has told John Swinney that an independence referendum is "off limits" By Glenn Campbell , Scotland political editor  and  Angus Cochrane , Senior political journalist Published 13 October 2026 Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to visit Scotland during the SNP conference. While John Swinney's party assembles in Aberdeen for its annual get-together later this week, Burnham will discuss his plans to devolve power to local areas during a trip to the central belt. Swinney is expected to promote his renewed push for independence in his keynote conference speech on Saturday. It is the prime minister's first substantive visit to Scotland since moving into Number 10 - and will be viewed by some as evidence that Swinney's renewed campaign for independence has got under the prime minister's skin. Burnham almost said as much at last month's Labour conference in Liverpool, where Swinney was the only contemporary political opponent mentioned in his keynote address. The Labour leader said he was "utterly determined" to prove wrong Swinney's claim that he would be the UK's last prime minister. Why the prime minister wants to talk about Brexit again Published 1 day ago Burnham's plan to end pension triple lock a bad idea, Swinney says Published 30 September The first minister has said he wants to hold a second independence referendum by 2031. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Scottish government is unable to do so without the consent of Westminster. Burnham has said there is no consensus for a second referendum, and told Swinney at a meeting in Glasgow in the summer that such a vote is "off limits". The prime minister was in the city for the opening of the Commonwealth Games. He also visited Scotland last month, when he was hosted by the King at Balmoral. Image source, PA Media Image caption, Burnham came to Scotland earlier this year for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony During a debate in the House of Commons this week, the prime minister told MPs that he was "looking forward to visiting Scotland later this week". Asked about Brexit harming Scotland's economy, Burnham said that the "status quo" was "not good enough for Scotland or for Britain". The SNP's Chris Law pressed the Labour leader on whether the UK government would discuss a legal route to a second independence referendum. Burnham replied: "The discussions that I am having with the Scottish government and will have later this month are on a model of deeper devolution for Scotland that can get growth going in all parts of the country. "That is where my priority lies and that is what I will do." He has also argued that investing in Scotland and "rewiring" the UK into a more decentralised state will prove an attractive alternative to independence. 'Not good enough for Scotland or Britain' The SNP has invited the prime minister to its conference, which starts on Thursday. The party's deputy leader, Keith Brown, said: "Andy Burnham made Scottish independence the focus of his conference speech with his time in Downing Street fast becoming defined by the UK's constitutional future - it is the central question on these islands." He added that the conference was the "perfect and natural place" for the Labour leader to set out Scotland's route to a second referendum. Meanwhile, shadow energy secretary and Scottish MP Andrew Bowie urged the prime minister to use the trip "to finally give the green light to new drilling in the North Sea". He added that "dithering" over final approval for major untapped fields - Jackdaw near Aberdeen and Rosebank off Shetland - was having a "devastating effect" on investment in the oil and gas sector. Related topics Scotland SNP Conference Scottish independence John Swinney Andy Burnham SNP (Scottish National Party) More on this story Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031 Published 14 September Burnham tells Swinney independence is 'off limits' at Commonwealth Games meeting Published 23 July