‘Agree to disagree’, Burnham tells Swinney on independence – source

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told John Swinney they will have to “agree to disagree” on Scottish independence in a call on Tuesday, a UK Government source said.The two leaders spoke for the first time since the Prime Minister took office over the phone on Tuesday morning, with the First Minister extending an invitation to visit Scotland “at the earliest opportunity”.Mr Swinney also raised the issue of Scottish independence, stressing the pro-separation majority in Holyrood, in the hopes of advancing the debate.The Prime Minister took office on Monday (Chris Furlong/PA)PA WireBut a UK Government source told the Press Association the Prime Minister had been resistant.“When the question of independence was raised, the Prime Minister was quite firm they would have to agree to disagree,” he said.“It’s not something he’s focused on and it’s not a conversation that he’s interested in taking forward.”The rest of the call, the source said, was “quite warm and constructive”, with the Prime Minister stressing the areas where the two Governments can work together and his drive for a “new kind of politics”.(PA Graphics)PA GraphicsThe Prime Minister spoke to the all of the heads of the devolved governments on Tuesday, as well as Mr Swinney, with a UK Government spokesman saying he stressed his desire for “practical measures, not constitutional changes like further referendums”.The spokesman added: “The Prime Minister had calls with the First Minister of Scotland, the First Minister of Wales and the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland today.“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.Read More“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.”According to a Scottish Government spokesman, the First Minister used the call to extend an invitation to the Prime Minister.“In a telephone call this morning, the First Minister congratulated the new Prime Minister on his appointment,” the spokesman said.“He set out his commitment to both governments working constructively together to address the cost-of-living crisis and to lower energy bills.“The First Minister set out the majority within the Scottish Parliament for the future of Scotland to be decided by the people of Scotland and looked forward to a constructive dialogue on this issue.“The First Minister also extended an invitation to host the Prime Minister at Bute House at the earliest opportunity.”