Burnham Says Scotland Should Follow Same Rules as Irish Unity Vote for Any New Referendum
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told MPs that the conditions for a second Scottish independence poll should match those set for an Irish reunification referendum.
At a parliamentary session, SNP MP Chris Law pressed Prime Minister Andy Burnham on the legal basis for a potential second Scottish independence referendum. Burnham referenced the Good Friday Agreement, which obliges the Northern Ireland Secretary to call a reunification poll when a clear consensus emerges. He argued that Scotland should be subject to the same criteria, but emphasized that he sees no majority backing a new vote at present.
Consequently, he said a Scottish border poll would not be scheduled until public sentiment changes significantly. The exchange highlighted the government's stance that any future referendum would require a demonstrable shift in public opinion.
How this was covered
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How this story developed
- Sep 1 Prime Minister Andy Burnham to Address Commons on First Day Back
- Sep 3 Burnham announced a plan to extend devolution to all parts of England and to increase public control of utilities.
- Sep 3 Labour moved to refer Reform UK to police over the alleged foreign‑donation breach.
- Sep 4 Bond yields surged to their fastest rise since the 2022 mini‑budget, wiping out £12 billion of fiscal headroom.
- Sep 4 Metropolitan Police began assessing the allegations.
- Sep 4 Farage called the allegations "loose pub talk" as Reform UK opened an internal inquiry and other parties referred the case to police.
- Sep 4 Addressing the conference hall, the Reform leader said “that poor young girl, she looked like she was going to do herself an injury”, before adding “boring, boring, boring”.
- Sep 5 James Orr and Dan Jukes were permanently suspended from their positions after the undercover footage was broadcast.
- Sep 6 Dan Jukes and James Orr resigned pending an internal investigation.
- Sep 6 Burnham pledged to transfer failing utilities into public ownership.
- Sep 6 John Healey will launch a £150 million fund aimed at supporting university spin-outs and other high-growth companies across northern England.
- Sep 7 Healey also pledged steps to curb borrowing costs, energy bills, regulation and labour expenses on UK businesses.
- Sep 9 Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he will not trim social security programmes to meet the 3 % of GDP defence spending goal and gave no timetable for reaching it.
- Sep 9 Burnham publicly rejected the welfare‑cut funding plan.
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