The Prime Minister was accused of ‘opening the door’ to another divisive independence referendum after failing to rule out a fresh vote during his premiership.
asserted
Minister → accuse → premiership
During a keynote speech in Motherwell, Andy Burnham declined to explicitly rule out a second referendum, saying only that his view on independence “won’t be changing”.
asserted
view → decline → independence
Mr Burnham was delivering his first major speech in Scotland since becoming Prime Minister at New College Lanarkshire’s campus in Motherwell, built on the site of the old Ravenscraig steelworks.
asserted
Burnham → deliver → steelworks
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: 'Burnham has again opened the door for John Swinney to demand another divisive referendum.
'
asserted
Swinney → say → referendum
On his rare visit to Scotland, Andy Burnham should have been giving the green light to new [North Sea] drilling.
asserted
Burnham → give → drilling
But instead, he was droning on about abstract political structures and procedures.
asserted
he → drone → structures
All of this is a massive distraction which won’t create a single job, apart from more jobs for the boys.'
asserted
which → create → boys
A source close to the First Minister said he was 'surprised' Mr Burnham had not categorically ruled out a referendum.
asserted
Burnham → say → referendum
Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn went further and described Mr Burnham’s comments as a 'very significant moment in Scotland’s constitutional journey'.
asserted
Flynn → go → journey
Andy Burnham was in Scotland at the same time as the SNP was holding its annual conference in Aberdeen
During a question and answer session with the press after his speech, Mr Burnham was asked whether he would rule out a second Scottish independence referendum for the duration of his premiership.
asserted
he → hold → premiership
He replied: 'I’m somebody who believes in all forms of unions, trade unions, definitely, and I think unions of countries are far better because you can face a challenging world in a more confident and stronger way in my view, when we collaborate and work together.'
asserted
we → reply → view
He said he had made his position clear to Scottish First Minister John Swinney, adding: 'He has a different view.
asserted
He → say → view
But let’s accept there’s a different view there, and work on what we can agree on.'
asserted
we → let → what
He continued: 'My view won’t be changing, but let’s now move forward where we can make some progress.'
asserted
we → continue → progress
Mr Flynn said: 'What I just listened to was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom being asked whether he would rule out an independence referendum and he declined to do so.
'
asserted
he → say → referendum
I firmly believe he declined to do so because he is a reasonable man who recognises his own hypocrisy if he was to continue along the lines of saying there can and should be a debate about a second referendum on membership of the European Union while seeking to deny one to the Scottish people in respect of our future.'
asserted
he → believe → future
He added: 'He has again today outlined that he is not opposed to that second independence referendum, very much building upon what he of course said in the House of Commons, and I think this is a very significant moment in Scotland’s constitutional journey.'
asserted
this → add → journey
Speaking in the House of Commons last month, Mr Burnham said the rules governing when a second Scottish independence referendum could take place should be 'exactly the same' as those for an Irish reunification referendum.
uncertain
referendum → speak → referendum
However, he later said a second Scottish independence referendum was 'off limits'.
asserted
referendum → say → limits
Mr Burnham was in Scotland at the same time as the SNP was holding its annual conference in Aberdeen.
asserted
SNP → hold → Aberdeen
In a speech focused on increasing devolution in Scotland, Mr Burnham called for an end to 'tribal politics' between Holyrood and Westminster, urging Mr Swinney to move beyond the constitutional question and focus on 'solutions for people right now'.
asserted
Burnham → focus → people
He described Scotland as 'one of the most centralised nations in Europe' and called for 'deeper devolution' north of the border.
asserted
He → describe → border
He said: 'Devolution was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament.'
asserted
Devolution → say → Parliament
Mr Burnham said he would set out plans for a 'new deal' for regional economic development in the coming months.
asserted
he → say → months
The proposals are expected to include an offer of further devolution from the Department for Work and Pensions.
asserted
proposals → expect → Work
He also called on Mr Swinney to transfer more powers from Holyrood to local areas.
asserted
He → call → areas
The Scottish Government announced plans last month to overhaul regional governance, replacing the current 32 local authorities with six new regional authorities.
asserted
Government → announce → authorities
However, details of how the proposed system would operate have yet to be released.
asserted
system → propose → ?
Trade unions and SNP councillors have raised concerns that the changes could reduce local accountability.
uncertain
changes → raise → accountability
Mr Swinney said he was willing to work with the Prime Minister if he devolved more powers to Scotland.
asserted
he → say → Scotland
He said: 'I’m all for the Scottish Parliament having as many powers as it possibly can do, and I’ll work constructively to make sure we bring all those powers to Scotland.'
uncertain
bring → say → Scotland
Mr Flynn also said Mr Swinney had written to the Prime Minister this week seeking greater powers for Holyrood, with employability powers listed at number seven on the list of requests.
asserted
powers → say → requests
The Aporia
