Celtic leaders doubt Burnham's devolution drive will extend beyond England

Leaders in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have expressed doubts about Andy Burnham's commitment to devolution beyond England, according to sources. Burnham, who is expected to become the UK's next prime minister, has emphasized devolving power and resources within England, but his approach has already caused friction with devolved administrations.

A senior Scottish government source indicated that Burnham's focus on Manchester as a "nerve centre of a rewired Britain" suggests a limited scope for his devolution agenda. The source questioned whether Burnham understood devolution from the perspective of Scotland, implying his vision was primarily English.

Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts stated that if Burnham wishes to genuinely serve Wales, he must move away from the "muscular unionism" previously seen from Labour. Burnham's assertion that people in Dundee and Bangor feel distant from their devolved governments in Holyrood and the Senedd, respectively, was also poorly received, particularly as these are strongholds for the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

Furthermore, Burnham's recent pitch to Scottish voters reportedly contained factual errors regarding devolved powers. There is also disappointment in Belfast and Cardiff over his apparent reversal on a pledge to reform or scrap the Barnett formula, which dictates Treasury funding allocations to the devolved nations.

Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, commented that "the face might change, but the policy never does," suggesting a continuity of approach from Westminster regardless of leadership. She emphasized the need to "fix the fundamentals" rather than merely "throw a few pounds at a problem."

Richard Wyn Jones, director of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre, highlighted an internal debate within the Labour party. One faction, comprising Scottish and Welsh MPs, reportedly favors working directly with local authorities rather than granting more powers to Holyrood and the Senedd, which Wyn Jones described as an "anti-devolution move" for those countries. Conversely, another faction aligns more closely with the understanding of devolution in Scotland and Wales, advocating for further devolution of powers such as justice, the Crown Estate, and rail infrastructure. Wyn Jones noted the significance of Mark Drakeford, the former Welsh Labour First Minister, campaigning for Burnham, suggesting Burnham's sympathy towards devolution from his time as Mayor of Manchester.