Prime Minister tells UK's nationalist leaders he's not interested in referendums or constitutional change
Andy Burnham has told the leaders of the UK’s devolved governments that he is focused on “practical measures” to help families with the cost of living, and not not “constitutional changes like further referendums”, Downing Street has said.
The new prime minister had calls with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Tuesday, his first full day in office.
Mr Burnham intends to travel to all of the home nations “shortly” to meet with local leaders.
His comments have been broadly welcomed by unionist political leaders in the province. UUP boss Jon Burrows welcomed the PM prioritising “practical help over more referendums and constitutional wrangling”.
DUP deputy leader Michelle McIlveen said Mr Burnham is right to focus on practical measures, not constitutional distractions – arguing that a border poll is not what Northern Ireland needs.
However, TUV leader Jim Allister warned that the prime minister can’t caution against constitutional upheaval “while still championing deeper devolution”.
The three UK nations all have separatist leaders, or in the case of NI a nationalist first minister in a joint role with a unionist.
In a summary of the calls, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister said he was serious about creating a new politics - rooted in finding common ground based on collaborative, practical and pragmatic relations with the heads of the devolved governments.
“Working in partnership, the Prime Minister said together they could drive deeper devolution to all parts of the United Kingdom to get growth going.
“The Prime Minister added he was focused on practical measures, not constitutional changes like further referendums, to give families more breathing room by helping them with the cost of living, which he had done today by helping millions of households with their energy bills.
“The Prime Minister said he looked forward to meeting with the heads of the devolved governments soon and visiting Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland shortly”.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s comments, Michelle McIlveen MLA said: “The constant obsession with constitutional change is a fantasy for Sinn Fein, not a priority for the vast majority of people who want better public services, lower costs and a growing economy.
“If Andy Burnham is serious about governing in the interests of the whole United Kingdom, he should concentrate on strengthening the Union and get on with delivering for working people. That is where the public expect the Government’s attention to be.”
Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows told the News Letter: “Most people don’t lie awake worrying about the constitution; they worry about household bills, mortgages, the cost of running their business, access to affordable childcare, being safe and their children’s future. So it’s welcome that the Prime Minister is prioritising practical help over more referendums and constitutional wrangling.
“What people actually want from government is simple: a better deal than they had before. That’s a far sounder test than another round of constitutional division.
“This is what the Ulster Unionist Party has been saying in Northern Ireland, we need to focus on the day job of delivering a better quality of life for everyone, not bickering about border polls.”
TUV leader Jim Allister said: “I welcome Mr Burnham’s emphasis on practical support rather than more referendums. However, he cannot warn against constitutional upheaval while still championing deeper devolution. Every new transfer of powers is itself constitutional change, and one that strengthens regionalism and nationalism, weakening rather than reinforcing the Union. This sits uneasily with the constitutional absurdity we already endure, where Article 6 of the Act of Union, dealing with trade, has been effectively set aside.
“The people of Northern Ireland are already disenfranchised under the Protocol, unable to participate fully within the Union because they are subject to laws they do not make and cannot change. This democratic deficit leaves Northern Ireland governed in key areas by external rule without representation, a position wholly incompatible with equal citizenship within the United Kingdom.
“If Mr Burnham wants genuine constitutional stability, he must stop talking from both sides of his mouth and recognise the urgent need to restore the Union, not erode it further through inaction on tackling the Union-dismantling Protocol and devolutionary drift”.