FIRST Minister John Swinney has said he looks forward to "constructive conversations" with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham on making Scottish independence happen.
Swinney congratulated Burnham in a statement following the Makerfield MP officially becoming Prime Minister on Monday.
“I congratulate Andy Burnham on his appointment as Prime Minister," Swinney said.
"This is a significant moment for the United Kingdom, and I commit to working constructively with him in order to improve the lives of people in Scotland.
“The UK faces a number of serious challenges at this moment, and Andy Burnham is correct when he says that Westminster is not working for the vast majority of people.
“Therefore, taking action on the cost of living must be an absolute priority for the new Prime Minister, and supporting people through sustained economic pressures will be key to restoring confidence and stability after a period of political turbulence.
“Just two months ago, the people of Scotland voted for my Government and our commitment to support people with the cost of living, ensure easier and quicker access to the NHS, and deliver the right to choose a fresh start with independence.
“I look forward to constructive conversations with the new Prime Minister about how we make that happen.”
It comes after Keir Starmer repeatedly refused to engage on talks with Swinney regarding independence following the Holyrood 2026 results.
The Scottish Greens called on the new PM to implement a wealth tax, which they said could bring in "tens of billions of pounds to cut bills for ordinary households, make public transport cheaper and invest in the services that we all depend on".
Party co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “Andy Burnham has talked a good game, but that is the easy part. Now he needs to show he has the courage to act.
“He will never be this powerful again, and he has a choice. He can talk about change while repeating the same failed politics of managed decline, or he can be bold and genuinely do things differently.
“The answer to how we pay for a better future is staring us in the face, and it begins with taxing the super-rich."
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who earlier this year became the first high-profile figure in the party to call on Starmer to quit, said he was “confident that Andy will rise to the challenge he has set out today”.
He added: “We must re-empower those communities that have been forgotten about and left behind and re-industrialise every part of our great country.
“That is what we can expect from this Labour government, taking on the poison of Reform and bringing hope back to Britain.”
Malcolm Offord, the leader of Reform UK Scotland, said he wished Burnham “well” but warned that “good intentions mean nothing without delivery”.
He added: “Scotland does not need another reset, another slogan or another round of empty promises. It needs action.
“That means reopening the North Sea, protecting Scottish jobs, cutting taxes for hardworking ordinary Scots, securing our borders, slashing bureaucracy and focusing government on better public services – not constitutional distractions.
“Reform UK Scotland will judge this Government on one thing: delivery. Where it acts in Scotland’s interests, we will support it. Where it fails, we will hold it to account without hesitation.”
Russell Findlay, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said that Burnham was “just a new frontman for a failing left-wing government that hates aspiration, splurges vast sums of taxpayers’ money on benefits and doesn’t take our national security seriously”.
He added: “Unless Burnham rejects net zero zealot Ed Miliband’s idiotic ban on new North Sea drilling, 1000 jobs every month will continue to be lost and the industry will be destroyed.
“With Burnham supporting many of the SNP’s disastrous left-wing policies, Scots face a double whammy of pain and misery.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth, the First Minister of Wales, urged Burnham not to bypass the Welsh Parliament and called for an early meeting.
“I congratulate Andy Burnham on his appointment as Prime Minister, which presents an opportunity to redefine the relationship between the Welsh and UK governments,” he said.
“I know that Andy Burnham shares my belief in the power of devolution to improve the lives of the people we serve.
“In that spirit, I hope we can speak the same language when it comes to devolving powers out of Westminster by strengthening, not bypassing, Wales’s national parliament and its ability to empower people and communities.
“I look forward to an early meeting with the new Prime Minister to agree how we can give Wales the powers it needs to grow the economy and build a fairer, more prosperous future for all.”
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said Burnham would be judged “on whether he provides the leadership necessary to deliver solutions” to what he said were the three crises facing the UK: affordability, inequality and climate.
He added: “His speech today failed to mention any willingness to challenge the vested interests of the establishment which Labour has become part and parcel of and has driven these crises. Without this being fundamental, nothing progressive can truly be achieved.
“We need action on sky high rents, with rent controls, we need to end the rip off and take water into actual public ownership, not tinkering with the existing failed model as is being suggested.
"We need wealth taxes as a first step towards tackling gross inequality and getting serious investment into our economy and public services.”
Elsewhere, European leaders congratulated Burnham on becoming Prime Minister, seizing the opportunity to call for closer EU-UK relations.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she looked forward to working with Burnham for the “prosperity of people on both sides of the Channel”.
She said in a post on Twitter/X: “Congratulations, dear Andy Burnham, on your confirmation as Prime Minister.
“I look forward to working with you to strengthen the EU-UK partnership."
Echoing her calls for closer ties, president of the European Council Antonio Costa said: “In the last two years EU-UK relations gained a new, positive momentum. I look forward to continuing to further deepen our co-operation for the benefit of our citizens and businesses.
“The United Kingdom and the European Union are stronger together.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also congratulated the Makerfield MP on his new role.
He said: “Congratulations Prime Minister Burnham on your appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
“Australia and the United Kingdom are longstanding friends, allies and partners, united by shared values and deep ties between our peoples.
“I look forward to working with you to strengthen our partnership and promote security, resilience and prosperity in the years ahead.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: “Congratulations and best wishes for a successful tenure to the new Prime Minister.
“Italy and the United Kingdom are bound by a deep friendship and a collaboration that, over the years, has grown ever stronger, also thanks to our joint work on key dossiers fundamental to our nations: from managing migratory flows to the major international crises, always addressed with a great spirit of collaboration.
“I am certain that we will continue down this path, strengthening our strategic partnership in the interest of our nations and our citizens.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “Congratulations to Andy Burnham on taking office as Prime Minister. Germany and the United Kingdom are close partners. I look forward to working together.”
