Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum

Green MSP Patrick Harvie noted that the Scottish Parliament currently had the largest pro-independence majority in its history.

He said: “If that’s not a mandate, what is? It’s a simple question and one that no Labour leader has been able to answer.

“Andy Burnham is perfectly entitled to argue against Scottish independence. What he shouldn’t do is block the people of Scotland from having the choice.”

Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, a supporter of Burnham, noted that support for the SNP dropped in May’s election, when compared to 2021.

Support for independence has remained steady at about 50% in recent months, external.

However, Sweeney described independence as a “minority pursuit”, arguing that Scots wanted “fundamental, tangible improvements to their daily lives”.

He added: “And the indulgent debate about breaking up the UK isn’t really featuring high on the agenda right now.”

The MSP called for a “mature debate” about the UK constitution instead of “being reduced to this absurd binary where we’re constantly replaying this forever war of 2014”.