UK PM Burnham rules out new Scottish independence referendum after Glasgow meeting

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ruled out a new Scottish independence referendum, saying the issue is off limits for his government. He made the comments during a meeting with Scotland's First Minister John Swinney in Glasgow on Thursday. The exchange comes only days after Burnham took office on July 20 and quickly became a fresh constitutional flashpoint.

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Burnham said a new vote would distract from efforts to grow the economy and reduce the cost of living, which he has made central to his new administration. According to a statement shared by the UK government, he said he was not focused on "point scoring" or on constitutional changes such as referendums. He also told Swinney in a call on Tuesday that the two would have to "agree to disagree" on Scottish independence.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of a long-running dispute over Scotland's constitutional future. Scotland last voted on independence in 2014, when 55% of voters chose to remain in the United Kingdom. Since then, the Scottish government has continued to press for another ballot, arguing that the political and economic context has changed after the UK's decision to leave the European Union, which 62% of Scots opposed.

Swinney has argued that independence could help Scotland move out of what he has described as political chaos and economic stagnation and towards greater security and prosperity as an EU member. Burnham, by contrast, has said his government will prioritise practical measures intended to help people live well across every postcode in the UK. He also raised plans for devolution, saying he wants to increase local autonomy and power as part of a wider effort to support struggling economies.

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The dispute matters because the legal and political route to another referendum remains tightly constrained. Britain's top court has already ruled that the Scottish government cannot hold a second independence vote without approval from the UK parliament. That means any change in position from London would be politically significant, even if no immediate shift is under way.

Burnham's remarks also come at a sensitive moment in his early premiership, with his government seeking to set out its domestic priorities while managing relations with devolved administrations. Downing Street said he welcomed Swinney's willingness to engage in the devolution process. Burnham was also due to meet Wales First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth later on Thursday and attend the opening of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

What remains unclear is whether the new government's stance will harden into a longer-term constitutional position or whether talks on devolution could ease tensions with Edinburgh. For now, the immediate prospect of another independence referendum appears closed, but the issue is likely to remain a live political test in Scotland and across the UK. The next developments to watch are any further statements from Burnham, Swinney, and the UK government on the scope of devolution and the future of the union.

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