UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in his first major speech in Scotland since taking office, proposed that John Swinney's government work together to deepen devolution, that is, the transfer of powers to the regions.
Speaking in Motherwell, he called Scotland one of the most centralised countries in Europe and proposed, among other things, transferring some functions of the Department for Work and Pensions. According to the Scotsman and the Irish Times, he rejected the question of a second independence referendum. Swinney replied that he would certainly take up the offer; Scotland's economy secretary Stephen Flynn recalled that on Monday Swinney had sent the prime minister a letter listing the powers Edinburgh wants. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the Scottish government already has all the powers it needs. The speech came on the day of the Scottish National Party's annual conference in Aberdeen.
Sources: PA Media (as published by ITV); The Scotsman; The Irish Times.
