Andy Burnham rules out IndyRef2 and tells John Swinney ‘independence and a referendum are off limits’

The Prime Minister pointed to Labour’s 2024 manifesto commitment which reaffirmed the party’s opposition to another vote on the constitution.

Andy Burnham has insisted a second referendum on independence remains “off limits” after it appeared the PM had made a sudden concession on the issue this week.

The Prime Minister said on Wednesday there would be no vote on the constitution until it was “clear” a majority of Scots wanted one.

Burnham was asked at PMQs about the position of Northern Ireland where, under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, a border poll can be triggered if the Secretary of State believes a majority of people would vote for Irish unification.

SNP MP Chris Law said voters in Scotland should have the “equal right to choose their own future” as those in the province.

Burnham responded: “I would say exactly the same situation in Scotland. I am not aware that there is a majority of public support for another referendum and until that changes there won’t be one.”

The PM’s choice of language was immediately seized on by the SNP, with John Swinney writing to Downing Street to demand a formal mechanism to trigger an IndyRef2 is written into law.

The SNP leader said Burnham’s comments amounted to “a long-overdue acceptance of the reality that the people of Scotland will decide their own future, not the UK Government”.

He added: “Your acceptance of the fact that majority support for independence in Scotland also means that a referendum should take place is welcome.”

But the Labour leader has now clarified he does not support any referendum – and pointed to his party’s manifesto commitment on the matter.

In a letter to Swinney today, the PM said: “As we all recognise, Northern Ireland and Scotland have different historical experiences and therefore distinct constitutional arrangements. In my remarks, I was simply highlighting that there is no consensus for an independence referendum in Scotland and nor is there a clear basis to suggest that a majority of people in Northern Ireland presently wish to separate from the United Kingdom.

“Unlike the situation today, ahead of 2014 such a consensus did exist across both the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament, across all political parties and across civic society. In that referendum the people of Scotland made clear their continued commitment to Scotland remaining part of the UK.

“The 2024 manifesto which Labour secured its parliamentary majority was unambiguous: ‘Labour does not support independence or another referendum’. As I made clear to you personally when we met recently in Glasgow, independence and a referendum are off limits as it would take our focus away from growing the economy and helping families with the cost of living.”

Burnham continued: “I and my Government are keen to work with you and the Scottish Government to ensure Scotland, as part of the UK, is rewired to work for people.”