Andy Burnham Vows 'Autonomy' For Scottish Labour

Andy Burnham has pledged to give Scottish Labour autonomy over organisational matters, selections, and policy'' if he is elected leader of the UK Labour Party.

The MP said it is time to change the perception or reality'' that Scottish Labour isa branch office'' of the UK party. Mr Burnham has previously said there is a case for Scottish Labour running its affairs entirely separately from the party at Westminster. Speaking to The Herald newspaper, Mr Burnham said Labour should remain one party'' across the UK but withmore autonomy for the Scottish party''. But both candidates vying to lead Scottish Labour, one of whom will be elected a month before the UK leader, have already rejected the notion that the party is controlled from London or that further autonomy is in the UK party's gift. Ken Macintosh described the notion of London control as fictional'', while his rival Kezia Dugdale insisted she does not need London's permission to run an autonomous Scottish Labour Party. Scottish Labour has already overhauled its candidate selection process for Holyrood, removing the protection enjoyed by sitting MSPs, and is considering introducing primaries for the 2020 Westminster election. Mr Burnham told The Herald:We must keep that principle; that regardless of where anybody joins we are one party. Whether someone joins in St Albans or St Andrews we are one party, and they are members of the same UK party but within that we want more autonomy for the Scottish party. That should be autonomy over organisational matters, selections, over policy.'' He said the notion that Scottish Labour is a branch officehas got to change''. He added: Whether it's perception or reality, there has to be substantive change to get the relationship right and put any perceptions that that is the case beyond question,'' he said.So I would be looking... to have measures put through the Labour conference this year, immediately, to give more autonomy to the Scottish party; to reflect the logic of the Scotland Bill that's going through Parliament.'' Mr Burnham said he has already discussed his plans with the general secretary of the Labour Party, and said any changes would be done in consultation with the new Scottish leader. The two Scottish candidates met in a televised debate on Monday, and were quizzed over whether the UK party would give Scottish Labour more autonomy. Ms Dugdale said: I'm not going to ask for it, I'm going to take it.You're saying that we need to ask permission for it. I'm going to take it. Nobody is going to stop me saying what I believe in and what I will stand up for.'' Mr Macintosh described the notion of London control as spurious'' andfictional''. It doesn't exist and they certainly don't look over my shoulder,'' he said.We've got political freedom. I've said that I want to negotiate a formal agreement because I think sometimes you have to mark your intention with action.''