The Guardian · October 15, 2026

Prime Minister Andy Burnham Is to Visit Scotland This Week During the SNP Conference in Aberdeen

• Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to visit Scotland later this week while the SNP holds its annual conference in Aberdeen, and will discuss plans to devolve power to local areas during a trip to the central belt, according to the report.
• Burnham told MPs during a Commons debate this week that he was looking forward to visiting Scotland later this week, according to the report.
• The SNP's Chris Law pressed Burnham on whether the UK government would discuss a legal route to a second independence referendum; Burnham said his discussions with the Scottish government are on a model of deeper devolution for Scotland and that this is his priority, according to the report.
• First Minister John Swinney wants to hold a second independence referendum by 2031, and the Supreme Court has ruled that the Scottish government cannot hold one without the consent of Westminster, according to the report.

Statements by Burnham and Law as reported; Swinney's position is included as documented in the source. Original headline: "Andy Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference".