Burnham invites Swinney to work together on 'deeper Scottish devolution'

The prime minister has invited the Scottish government to work together to put "power back in the hands" of regions - but insisted they must "move beyond" the constitutional question of Scottish independence. Andy Burnham said he wanted to start work on a new deal for regional economic development in the next few months, including an offer of devolution from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Speaking at an event in Motherwell, Burnham called on first minister John Swinney to cede further powers from Holyrood to local areas before that happened. SNP minister Stephen Flynn said the party had asked for increased devolution since the Smith Commission report was published in 2014. The prime minister said devolution "was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament" when Holyrood opened in 1999. He said it was meant to be the "start of something deeper" where "communities had more of a say in their own future". This video can not be played Burnham invites Swinney to work together on 'deeper Scottish devolution' However, he described Scotland as the most devolved nation in the UK but "one of the most centralised in Europe". "During my first week in office, I told the first minister that I wanted to work with him to spread opportunities to communities across Scotland's regions and cities," he said. "Through No10 North, we are rewiring the state and I want to make sure regions in Scotland are fully part of this. "This is me making an offer to the Scottish government. With us working together, there is no limit to what we can achieve for the Scottish people." Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference Burnham - Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas decisions coming 'shortly' The Scottish government set out plans for a radical rethink of the country's regional authorities last month. A new two-tiered system would 32 local authorities replaced with six new regional authorities. They would have power over major issues such as economic growth and education. Below that, between 120 and 160 community authorities would govern more local issues, such as licensing and town centre improvements. It would be the most significant change to Scotland's regional makeup since the current system was introduced 1996. Burnham acknowledged that the Scottish government was working on local government reform, but said this had to "move faster". It is not clear exactly what powers might be exercised at regional level other than employment support.