Andy Burnham Signals Willingness for a Second Scottish Independence Vote if Public Supports It
ANDY Burnham has indicated a new vote on Scottish independence could happen if there is public support for a break away. had previously told the country’s Firs...
ANDY Burnham has indicated a new vote on Scottish independence could happen if there is public support for a break away.
had previously told the country’s First Minister that a second referendum was “off limits”.
PM Burnham has indicated a new vote on Scottish independence could happen if there is public support
Scottish First Minister John Swinney was previously told by the PM that a second referendum was ‘off the cards’ Credit: Alamy
But he told MPs that clear public support could trigger a vote in the same way a border poll could take place in Northern Ireland.
His response came after Chris Law said the Good Friday Agreement made clear a poll would take place when there is a clear consensus for a vote.
The PM said: “I would say exactly the same situation in Scotland.”
“I am not aware that there is a majority of public support for another referendum and until that changes there won’t be one.”
But Mr Swinney said: “To go from ‘off limits’ to this is an acceptance of the reality that the people of Scotland will decide their own future – not the UK Government.
“For the first time since 2014, a British Prime Minister accepts that majority support for a referendum should mean one takes place.”
But Downing Street insisted there had been no change in the Prime Minister’s position.
Mr Burnham’s press secretary said: “The PM’s been repeatedly clear on this.”