Andy Burnham has opened the door to another Scottish independence referendum could be held if public opinion shows demand for one.
The Prime Minister had previously told Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney that a second referendum is “off limits”.
However, in the Commons he appeared to indicate a vote could be held if there was clear public support, comparing the situation to the conditions for a border poll in Northern Ireland.
In fact Mr Burnham went as far as to compare it to potential Irish reunification.
The issue came up at Prime Minister’s Questions, when the Scottish National Party MP for Dundee Central Chris Law asked Mr Burnham about a second independence referendum.
Mr Law said: “[The Prime Minister] will know that the Northern Ireland Act contains a provision for a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom, but no equivalent provision exists within the law for Scotland.
“Does the Prime Minister recognise that people of Scotland have the same right, and the equal right to choose their own future?”
The SNP MP’s comment was met with a heckle from the backbenches of “you had a referendum”.
Dundee Central MP Chris Law asked Andy Burnham about the referendum
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In response to Mr Law’s question, Mr Burnham said he would stick to the conditions of the Good Friday Agreement “100 per cent.”
The Prime Minister continued: “On that question of a border poll, It is to be considered by the Northern Ireland Secretary when there is a clear consensus in the country, when public opinion has changed to the point where where the call has to be has to be considered.
“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.”
The response was met with indignation from the SNP MPs, who seemed visibly irate at the Prime Minister.
Andy Burnham addressed the issue in the Commons
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Later in the afternoon, the Prime Minister’s spokesman was forced to clarify Downing Street’s position.
Mr Burnham’s press secretary said: “The PM’s been repeatedly clear on this.
“In his call with the Scottish First Minister in his first week, the PM stated upfront that another referendum on independence was off limits and as our election manifesto makes clear, Labour does not support independence or another referendum.”
The Scottish First Minister has consistently called for a second referendum
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The issue of Scottish independence has been raised in both Holyrood and Westminster after SNP leader John Swinney returned to Bute House following this year’s elections.
In 2014, Scotland voted against becoming an independent country by 55 per cent to 45 per cent, with Westminster refusing to allow another referendum since then.
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.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is due to meet with Andy Burnham
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Issues relating to Northern Ireland are on the agenda for a meeting between Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Mr Burnham later this month.
Asked if he would be discussing the Good Friday Agreement with Mr Burnham, the Taoiseach told reporters at his Fianna Fáil party think-in that he did not want to “pre-empt” the meeting.
Pressed on his own personal views, Mr Martin said unity “would be the best outcome” but he did not want to put dates on it.
He was quick to add the the concept of republicanism is much broader than a border poll, saying: “It’s about uniting Protestant, Catholic, the centre, in the concept of Wolfe Tone.
“Perhaps in the modern area it has broadened out to involve more than than just that. I think we should be careful of not being sucked in by soundbites and by campaigns that seem to me to have short-term objectives to satisfy political bases.”