Andy Burnham, the Member of Parliament for Makerfield and a leading contender to succeed Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour Party, has stated that he is opposed to holding a second referendum on Scottish independence. During a meeting last week with about 25 Scottish Labour MPs, Burnham made clear that he was “not willing to consider” another constitutional vote.

The comments, reported by attendees of the gathering, signal Burnham’s firm stance against a fresh independence referendum despite his support for broader devolution. One Scottish Labour MP present at the meeting said Burnham was “crystal clear” that another vote on the Union was off the table.

Burnham’s remarks come amid his announcement of significant devolution reforms intended to enhance local governance across the UK. He emphasized that his proposals aim to decentralize power further to local authorities—such as metro mayors—rather than augmenting the powers of Scotland’s devolved legislature. “I want to take power deeper down,” he told MPs, seeking to distinguish his vision from constitutional changes involving the devolved governments.

However, opposition leaders expressed concerns that increased local control could fuel nationalist efforts to break up the United Kingdom. Russell Findlay, leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, warned that Scots could be alarmed if the Scottish National Party (SNP) were to gain more authority as part of such reforms.

The SNP swiftly criticized Burnham’s rejection of a second independence referendum, condemning it as a dismissal of Scottish democratic will. David Linden, an SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament representing Glasgow, accused Burnham of “disrespecting Scottish democracy” ahead of any formal discussions on constitutional matters in Westminster.

Burnham’s position signals a continuity of Labour’s official stance against another Scottish independence referendum under its next leadership, while seeking to advance governance reforms at the local level. As the debate over Scotland’s constitutional future continues, his statements underscore the ongoing tensions between unionist parties and pro-independence advocates within the UK’s political landscape.