Independence trigger already met, Gilruth says amid Plaid and Sinn Fein meet

The trigger point for another Scottish independence referendum has already been met, the country’s Deputy First Minister has claimed.

Jenny Gilruth also said she did not believe Prime Minister Andy Burnham was an “ardent unionist”, following his previous comments about the union.

She made the comments as John Swinney seeks agreement with Westminster on a legal mechanism to hold another vote.

The First Minister met with the leaders of Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin in Cardiff on Monday to sign an agreement to push for referendums on leaving the UK.

Ms Gilruth said the meeting was a “hugely significant political moment”.

Appearing on the BBC’s Radio Scotland Breakfast, she was asked what the trigger for another referendum should be.

The Finance Secretary said she would not “set an arbitrary number”.

Pressed again, she said: “Well, I think, actually, fundamentally the trigger mechanism should be to respect the right of the Scottish people and we only need to look at the last election result to say that we’ve met that requirement.

“We have a majority of independence-supporting MSPs in the Scottish Parliament, 73, the largest in the country’s history.

“I think that requires to be recognised. Something fundamentally is stuck, is broken, and is not working for the people of Scotland.

“The union isn’t delivering as it should do and that’s exactly why you see not only pro-independence MSPs elected in Scotland, but in Northern Ireland and in Wales additionally.

“Something is fundamentally wrong with our current constitutional framework. It is broken.”

Ms Gilruth said if the UK was a “voluntary union then there should be a democratic means by which we can leave”.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces pressure for independence referendums from the leaders of the three devolved nations (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

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It comes after Mr Burnham told the Commons that another vote in Scotland could be held if there was a “clear consensus” north of the border for it.

However, the Prime Minister said in a letter to Mr Swinney that a referendum remained “off limits”.

Ms Gilruth said the Prime Minister’s statement amounted to “significant” movement, despite his later remarks saying the constitution was off-limits.

“Andy Burnham, we do not believe, is an ardent unionist at heart,” she said. “This is a pro-devolution Prime Minister who said only four years ago, ‘it’s clear the constitutional question is not settled’ in terms of a referendum. ‘I’m not going to say no, not ever’.

“So, I actually think Mr Burnham was probably saying exactly what he meant.”

Mr Burnham had said in a 2022 interview: “Looking from the outside, it’s clear the constitutional question is not settled.

“In terms of a referendum, I’m not going to say, ‘No, not ever’, I’m not going to use that language.

“But I do think there are more important things now – people’s living standards and incomes, the NHS – and I would personally hate to see a border between England and Scotland.

“If there has to be another referendum, my party needs to come up with a much better alternative to the one that was put forward last time.”

A spokesperson for the UK Government said: “The Prime Minister is committed to delivering change across all four nations of the United Kingdom and believes strongly in the Union.

“The United Kingdom is at its best when people come together around our shared values and problem-solving rather than division.

“The Government is focused on addressing the issues that matter most to families, including easing pressures on household finances and delivering greater economic security, rather than engaging in constitutional debates or further referendums.

“The Prime Minister’s approach to working with the First and deputy First Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is based on partnership and collaboration, focused on delivering growth and good jobs for people across all parts of our country.”