Andy Burnham faces criticism from Scottish leaders during Scotland visit

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced criticism from Scottish political leaders during his visit to Scotland. While Burnham proposed a “new model of regional economic empowerment” to deepen devolution and move beyond constitutional conflict, Scottish leaders rejected the proposal as insufficient.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth accused Burnham of acting like “the first prime minister of England,” noting that his major announcements often appear to focus solely on England. Similarly, the Scottish Greens labeled his speech a “distraction” from his refusal to allow a second independence referendum, arguing that his promises of devolution do not address Scotland's lack of decision-making powers.

In addition to political tensions, the Scottish Greens challenged the Prime Minister to visit the Cairngorms to witness the damage caused by recent intense wildfires. They argued that such visits are necessary to highlight the impact of environmental breakdown and the urgent need for targeted climate action.