Prime Minister Andy Burnham has visited Motherwell as he called for more power to be handed to Scotland’s cities, regions and local communities.
Burnham was joined by Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander during a visit to a college in the North Lanarkshire town on Friday (16 October), where he spoke to young people ahead of a major speech on the future of devolution.
The Prime Minister is offering to work with First Minister John Swinney on plans to move decision-making away from both Westminster and Holyrood.
Burnham argues that while substantial powers have been transferred from London to the Scottish Parliament over the past 27 years, too much power within Scotland remains concentrated in Edinburgh.
Downing Street said the Scottish Government was one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe and that people who know their own areas best should have greater control over decisions affecting jobs, investment and public services.
Burnham said: “Through No10 North, we are rewiring the state and I want to make sure regions in Scotland are fully part of this.”
His proposals could see the UK and Scottish governments work together to give regions and communities greater influence over economic development.
The approach draws heavily on Burnham’s experience as Mayor of Greater Manchester, where powers over areas including transport, skills and economic development were transferred away from central government.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said people living in areas including North Lanarkshire, Fife and the Highlands were often better placed to understand what their communities needed than ministers sitting in either London or Edinburgh.
The intervention comes as the Scottish Government considers major changes to the way councils and public services are organised.
Proposals being examined include replacing the current 32-council structure with a system of larger regional authorities and smaller community bodies.
Scottish Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn said the Scottish Government was willing to listen to Burnham’s proposals.
He said: “I am very keen to hear the Prime Minister’s ideas in relation to public sector reform.
“If he has some good ones, then we will certainly take them and run with them.”
Burnham’s visit also comes during the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen, putting the future of Scotland’s constitutional arrangements firmly back into the political spotlight.
The Prime Minister has rejected demands for another Scottish independence referendum but has argued that the existing system of government across the UK needs substantial reform.
His Motherwell intervention attempts to shift the devolution debate beyond the traditional argument over powers moving between Westminster and Holyrood.