Prime Minister Andy Burnham will meet John Swinney in Glasgow today as he attempts to persuade Scotland’s devolved government to back a new drive to hand more power to cities and regions.
The talks will take place at the first National Economic Council meeting dedicated to the nations of the UK, with economic growth, reindustrialisation and regional devolution on the agenda.
Burnham is expected to tell the Scottish Government that devolution should go further than transferring powers from Westminster to Holyrood, arguing that more decisions should also be taken closer to communities.
The meeting comes two weeks after Burnham used a speech in Motherwell to describe Scotland as “one of the most centralised nations in Europe” and called for more powers to be handed to Scottish regions.
He said at the time that devolution had “never been supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament”.
Ahead of today’s meeting, Burnham said: “Through No10 North, we are rewiring the state. I want to make sure every city and region in the United Kingdom is part of that.
“Today I’ll be making an offer to the governments of each nation. Put politics aside and work in partnership with the UK Government to develop models of regional empowerment that ensure communities can use their own strengths to unlock their potential.
“This is the next stage of devolution. Together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”
The intervention could reopen the debate over how power is distributed within Scotland.
Burnham has made greater regional devolution one of the central themes of his premiership, building on the system of powerful city-region mayors developed in England.
During his previous role as mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham controlled significant powers over areas including transport, skills and economic development.
He has argued that Scottish cities and regions should be given similar opportunities.
Earlier this month, he called for the UK and Scottish governments to develop a new model of regional economic empowerment for Scotland.
He also offered further devolution of employment support from the Department for Work and Pensions, with the Scottish Government helping to shape a system suited to Scotland.
Swinney, however, will use today’s talks to press the Prime Minister for further powers to be transferred to Scotland itself.
The First Minister said the meeting provided an opportunity for Burnham to “turn words into action”.
He said: “The National Economic Council provides an opportunity for the Prime Minister to turn words into action by engaging constructively with Scottish Government proposals to help grow our economy.
“The Prime Minister has made devolution a central focus for his government, however, the UK Government must ensure that any devolution proposals respect devolution in Scotland. That means working with the Scottish Government.
“The Scottish Government has put forward substantive proposals to the UK Government on areas where further devolution would help grow Scotland’s economy and I will press the Prime Minister, and his government, to work with us to deliver those proposals.”
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth is also expected to attend.
Representatives from Wales and Northern Ireland will take part in the meeting as Burnham attempts to establish a new relationship between Downing Street and the devolved administrations.
The Prime Minister has said the UK and Scottish governments will not agree on everything but should work together where they have common interests.
In his Motherwell speech on 16 October, Burnham said he wanted both governments to “push power out from the centre – from Westminster and Holyrood – and put it into the hands of local people”.
The debate comes as the Scottish Government considers the future structure of local government and public services, while councils continue to argue for greater financial and decision-making powers.
Burnham has warned that Scotland risks falling behind parts of northern England if its cities and regions are not given greater economic powers.
The summit comes two days after Chancellor John Healey used the Budget to announce what he described as the “most radical act of devolution in a generation”.
His Fiscal Devolution Roadmap will allow mayors in England to retain a share of business rates from next year and receive a share of income tax revenues from 2028, with 100 per cent of business rates ultimately retained locally by the end of the decade.
The measures apply to England, but the Budget also committed the UK Government to working with the devolved governments and regional leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to explore how similar regional empowerment could be extended across the UK.
Today’s Glasgow summit is a first step in understanding what that could mean for Scotland.