Burnham in plea to ‘rewire’ Britain and increase devolution
The Labour politician cited his personal battle with the UK Government in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, when he accused the Tories of “bullying” his area into accepting lower than the requested £65 million enterprise assist bundle.
His feedback got here as First Minister Humza Yousaf hit out on the UK Government and claimed Scotland’s deposit return scheme might be scrapped after it did not grant an Internal Market Act exemption which means glass might be included.
I feel we have got to rewire Britain to make it higher, and that features extra devolution to us and to Scotland
Former MP Mr Burnham, who has been mayor since 2017, informed the PA news company throughout a go to to Scotland: “I’ve had my frustrations (with Westminster) and to be honest with you, I feel like I understand the sentiments in Scotland better because we all have our frustrations about the way Westminster treats the rest of the UK, the regions in England but also Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“I think people may not realise in Scotland how much we feel the same in the north of England.
“We saw it in the pandemic, the way Greater Manchester was treated by the Westminster Government. They feel they can do things to us that they wouldn’t dare do in London and the South East.
“That’s what’s got to change. Personally, I think we’ve got to rewire Britain to make it better, and that includes more devolution to us and to Scotland.”
As a part of his go to, Mr Burnham visited producer Alexander Dennis’s Larbert web site to see the primary 50 new “Bee Network”-branded buses bought for Greater Manchester.
He stated the Scottish Government has failed in its strategy to granting stronger powers to native areas.
“I think in Scotland there needs to be more devolution down to the cities and regions, and that’s something the SNP hasn’t done and I think needs to be done,” he stated.
He has backed former prime minister Gordon Brown’s name for mayors in all main Scottish cities and areas, the place the elected official can maintain common conferences with ministers, including the strategy “just makes sense”.
He added: “If I could pick up the phone to the elected mayors or provost of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Dundee, we’d all start working more.”
It would lead to larger collaboration between companies in Scotland and England with out the necessity for nationwide governments, he added.
Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson stated the actions of the UK Government have resulted in “major erosion of the devolution settlement”.
He added: “The Scottish Government recognises the crucial role of local government.
“That is why we are working to finalise the partnership agreement to enable local and national government to work together to achieve better outcomes for people and communities across Scotland.”
A UK Government spokesperson stated: “This year, we signed a landmark deeper devolution deal for Greater Manchester, marking a seismic shift in power, funding and responsibility away from London to the region and mayor.
“The deal puts more cash and power in the hands of local leaders to invest in the priorities that local communities truly care about, such as better bus and train services, skills and housing.
“We are already making significant progress to offer a devolution deal to any area that wants one by 2030, with over 50% of England covered by a devolution deal.”