John Swinney to push for another 'divisive' vote to split the UK when he meets Andy Burnham

By TOM GORDON, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 18:54, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 18:54, 17 July 2026 John Swinney is to push for another ‘divisive’ independence referendum from Andy Burnham in his first meeting with the new Prime Minister. The SNP leader said Westminster had no right to ‘dictate Scotland’s future’. Mr Burnham recently told Scottish Labour MPs he will refuse to let Holyrood hold a new vote on breaking up Britain. But the First Minister is set to ask for one regardless when they pair meet next week. Mr Burnham is expected to speak to Mr Swinney by phone on Monday after taking over at No 10, with a face-to-face meeting within days, possibly around the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. A source close to the FM said: ‘Our position is that the future of Scotland is a matter of the people of Scotland.’ Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: ‘Scots are scunnered with John Swinney and the SNP’s obsession with breaking up the United Kingdom. ‘They want him to be focused on the real issues impacting their daily lives. John Swinney is preparing to push for another referendum with the new PM Andy Burnham is expected to speak to Mr Swinney by phone on Monday ‘John Swinney should be using his first meeting with the new Prime Minister to tell him Labour must urgently back new drilling in the North Sea.’ Scotland in Union chair Alastair Cameron added: ‘If John Swinney paid the slightest bit of attention to public opinion, he’d know the people of Scotland don’t want another divisive referendum. He’ll get the same answer from Andy Burnham as the SNP got from every other Prime Minister since 2014.’ Mr Swinney said he wanted ‘a constructive relationship’ with Mr Burnham to improve the lives of Scots. He said: ‘The UK faces serious challenges on a number of fronts. Flatlining living standards, weak economic growth and years of austerity have left households, public services and businesses struggling. ‘If Andy Burnham is serious about a genuinely new approach that can properly address these challenges, he will find in me and the SNP a willing partner. ‘But that relationship must be based on a recognition that the political landscape across the UK is changing, and that Westminster does not have the right to dictate Scotland’s future.’ Deputy FM Jenny Gilruth said Mr Burnham should ‘grant the Scottish people a referendum’. The former mayor of Greater Manchester has said he wants to decentralise power with UK-wide devolution. Ms Gilruth said the ‘greatest devolution’ Scotland could have would be independence.