Prime Minister Andy Burnham has invited Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney to work with the UK Government on a new approach to devolving powers to Scotland’s regions and cities.
In an announcement issued by Downing Street on 15 October 2026, ahead of Burnham’s planned visit to Lanarkshire on Friday, the Prime Minister said decision-making should move beyond both Westminster and Holyrood to give local communities greater influence over economic development.
Prime Minister challenges Holyrood's approach
Downing Street said Burnham would argue that the Scottish Government is among Europe’s most centralised devolved administrations. That is the UK Government’s characterisation, rather than an independently established conclusion in the announcement.
Burnham proposed that the Scottish Government work with No10 North and the Scotland Office to develop a model of regional empowerment intended to support jobs, investment and reindustrialisation.
The Prime Minister said he wanted Scottish regions to be included in his wider programme of decentralising government. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander likewise argued that devolution should extend beyond the Scottish Parliament to communities and local authorities.
Scottish Government points to its own reforms
The Scottish Government has already launched discussions on restructuring local government. In September, Swinney outlined proposals to strengthen regional decision-making and empower communities, with the detail subject to consultation.
Responding to Burnham’s planned intervention, Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth welcomed engagement but noted that the Scottish Government’s public service reform work was already under way. Her response indicates that the two governments may share some stated aims while differing over the framing and implementation of reform.
Political timing
Burnham’s planned remarks coincide with the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen, giving the proposal a political dimension alongside its implications for local governance.
No new statutory powers, funding settlement or formal agreement between the two governments has been announced. The immediate development is an offer to cooperate on designing a future model; any implementation would require further decisions.