(Image: Gary Oakley)
Andy Burnham will make John Swinney an offer to work together to "empower Scotland's regions" in what he describes as a bid to push "more power out of both Westminster and Holyrood".
In a speech on Friday, the Prime Minister is expected to offer an olive branch to invite Scotland's First Minister to work with him to "unlock jobs and opportunity in every region."
Delivering his remarks after speaking with young people today in Lanarkshire, Andy Burnham is expected to emphasise that "the Scottish Government is one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe, with Holyrood not giving people who know their areas best enough of a say, despite significant devolution from Westminster over the last 27 years."
Urging that "power was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament," the Prime Minister will argue the next stage of devolution should place more decision-making in the hands of Scotland's regions and cities to drive reindustrialisation.
As part of that offer, he will call on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government through No.10 North and the Scotland Office to develop a new model of regional empowerment for Scotland, which he says will "ensure communities with their own strengths, identity and ambitions can seize new economic opportunities and unlock their potential."
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Devolution has been a centrepoint of the Prime Minister’s agenda since he came to power in the summer, and he has insisted that giving more control to regional mayors and authorities across England will help to boost economic growth.
His vision for further devolution in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland has been less clear, but the Prime Minister has said he will listen to the nations’ calls for more powers while arguing they should share more responsibilities with local authorities.
Mr Burnham is expected to say during the visit that giving more decision-making powers to Scotland’s cities and regions should be the next stage of Scottish devolution, as it will help drive reindustrialisation.
Speaking ahead of the trip, he said: “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.
“Through No 10 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.”
First Minister and party leader John Swinney during the Scottish National Party (SNP) annual conference, at The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) on Thursday (Image: Jane Barlow)
The announcement offers no specifics but continues the debate over whether power in Scotland is too concentrated at Holyrood and in Westminster, and whether cities and regions should have more direct control over economic policy, skills and investment.
The Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander, said: “Devolution has done a great deal, but power was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament.
“People in North Lanarkshire, in Fife or in the Highlands know what their communities need better than any minister, whether they sit in London or Edinburgh.
“The Prime Minister’s offer to the Scottish Government is a genuine one, and the Scotland Office is ready to roll up its sleeves alongside them to make it happen. Two governments, one goal – good jobs and real opportunity in every corner of Scotland.”
The Prime Minister’s visit comes as the SNP is holding its annual party conference.
The SNP’s deputy leader, Keith Brown, has invited Mr Burnham to speak at the gathering, saying it would be the “perfect and natural place” for the Prime Minister to set out an agreed legal process for Scottish independence.
Mr Swinney was the only rival party leader widely mentioned during the Prime Minister’s Labour Party conference speech.
Mr Burnham said he was “utterly determined” to prove wrong the SNP leader’s prediction that he will be the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Before coming into office, Mr Burnham promised to devolve more powers to Scotland as part of what he describes as the "biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen".
It comes as we reported that Kemi Badenoch has opened the door to reforming the Scotland Act to stop Holyrood blocking UK Government priorities, including new nuclear power stations.
Speaking to reporters in Edinburgh, the Conservative leader said her party wanted its MSPs to examine how devolved powers are being used.
Asked about the review, Ms Badenoch insisted there was no firm plan.