New PM Andy Burnham tells John Swinney ‘agree to disagree’ on Scottish independence

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reported to have told Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney that they will have to “agree to disagree” on Scottish independence.

The two leaders spoke on the phone on Tuesday morning for the first time since Burnham took office.

Swinney raised the issue of Scotland’s future, stressing the pro-independence majority in Holyrood, in the hope of advancing the debate.

But a UK government source told the Press Association that the prime minister had been resistant.

He said: “When the question of independence was raised, the prime minister was quite firm they would have to agree to disagree.

“It’s not something he’s focused on and it’s not a conversation that he’s interested in taking forward.”

The source described the rest of the call as “quite warm and constructive”.

He added that Burnham emphasised to Swinney the areas where the two governments could work together and spoke of his drive for a “new kind of politics”.

Last week Swinney congratulated the former mayor of Greater Manchester after he was confirmed as UK Labour’s new leader.

He said he hoped to build a “constructive relationship” with Burnham that would improve the lives of people in Scotland.

Speaking to the Press Association on Tuesday, Swinney acknowledged there were areas where he and Burnham would not agree.

“Obviously, the prime minister and I have different views on the constitution, but I’ve got a mandate to take forward,” he said.

“I will be looking to advance that mandate that I received directly from the people of Scotland in the course of the last few months and to make sure that Scotland has a choice about her own future.”

The SNP lost seats in May’s election, but remained the largest party, with the increase in Scottish Green voters helping to secure a pro-independence majority at Holyrood.

Swinney added that his call with the PM was “positive”.

“I congratulated him on his election and he made it clear he wanted to operate in a constructive and positive way with the Scottish government and I welcome that indication,” Swinney said.

He also welcomed the announcement of a cut in VAT on energy bills, which will “provide some support in relation to the cost of living”.

According to a Scottish government spokesperson, Swinney also used the call to extend an invitation to the PM to visit Scotland.