Scotland and Wales First Ministers Tell Andy Burnham Local Devolution Is Holyrood and Senedd’s Call, Not Westminster’s

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Wales’s First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth have told Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham that decisions on further local devolution rest solely with the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd, not Westminster. The statement came after Burnham met with both leaders in Glasgow to discuss localized employment and reindustrialization powers, part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s push to extend English-style regional devolution across the UK. Downing Street described the talks as ‘constructive,’ but the first ministers made clear that any transfer of powers to local authorities within their nations would be determined by their own parliaments, not imposed from London. This stance underscores the constitutional reality that devolution is a matter for each nation, and it signals potential friction as the UK government seeks a more uniform approach to regional economic growth. For Burnham, who has championed greater powers for English city-regions, the response highlights the limits of Westminster’s influence over devolved nations. The exchange sets the stage for further negotiations on how best to drive local growth while respecting the autonomy of Scotland and Wales.