The deputy leader of Scottish Labour has said “cooperation” between the UK and Scottish Government is what matters most when Andy Burnham becomes prime minister.
The former Greater Manchester mayor, who returned to Westminster last month as the MP for Makerfield, was confirmed Labour leader on Friday before he enters No 10 as the prime minister on Monday.
In his pitch for the Labour leadership, Mr Burnham focused on devolution and said he wanted to decentralise Westminster, including an extension of the prime minister’s office in Manchester dubbed “No 10 North”.
Andy Burnham after officially being confirmed the new leader of the Labour Party (Yui Mok/PA)PA WireSpeaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sunday Show, Dame Jackie Baillie said Mr Burnham would need to consider all of what should be devolved in Scotland “in the round”.
She continued: “What matters to me is that there’s cooperation between the UK Government and the Scottish Government, and that we always act in the interests of Scottish people.
“So, for example do I want to see energy bills reduced? Of course I do. I’d like to see that across the whole of the United Kingdom.
“I’d like action, and I’ve believed in action on standing charges, there are things that both governments can work together to do without us getting drawn into a huge long discussion about you know which power should be devolved and which shouldn’t.
“Let’s just get on with the job of delivering for the people of Scotland, and that’s something I know Andy Burnham working with (Scottish Labour leader) Anas Sarwar will absolutely do.”
During the Holyrood elections in May, Scottish Labour lost five seats bringing the party’s total down to 17 alongside new party Reform Scotland.
Prior to the elections Mr Sarwar called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign as he said “the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change”.
He said he believed a series of “mistakes” were undermining Labour’s prospects in the upcoming elections.
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Dame Jackie confirmed that during the election voters were “raising their concerns” about Sir Keir and the UK Labour party.
She said: “I think people are disappointed. I think we all are disappointed.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has earlier called for Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation (Jane Barlow/PA)PA Wire“You know, you don’t work your entire political life for something and then celebrate when you’ve lost. Of course not.
“This is a period for serious reflection, that’s what we’re doing.
“We’re talking to members and activists, elected members, we are looking at what we could have done differently, what we could have done better, and to learn lessons for the future.
“But but let me say to you, the political context was hugely damaging to our election prospects on every door, if not every second door that I was on, people were raising their concerns about Keir Starmer and the UK Labour Government, and that is of course extremely disappointing.”