Swinney presses Burnham for talks on 'agreed legal mechanism' for indyref2

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney is urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to engage in discussions regarding a legal mechanism that could facilitate a second independence referendum in Scotland. Swinney sent a letter to the Prime Minister, following the latter's suggestion during Prime Minister's Questions that such a vote could occur if public opinion demonstrated a demand for one. The Labour leader's remarks appeared to contradict his previous stance, which was that another referendum was "off the table."

Swinney emphasized the importance of addressing "how we turn that principle into an agreed legal mechanism, as exists in Northern Ireland." He further highlighted that previous UK leaders' refusal to entertain the idea of another referendum was "clearly unsustainable," and hailed Burnham's comments as a "long-overdue acceptance of the reality that the people of Scotland will decide their own future."

Johnson had previously indicated that Scotland should follow the same legal path as Northern Ireland. Burnham pointed to the Good Friday Agreement, which provides for a border poll to be held when the Northern Ireland Secretary identifies a "clear consensus in the country, when public opinion has changed to the point where the call has to be considered."

The Prime Minister expressed uncertainty about the current level of public support for another referendum in Scotland, stating that "until that changes there won't be one." Swinney, however, expressed encouragement that Labour leader Burnham had "reconsidered" his stance, and noted the SNP's historic victory in the May elections, where they secured a fifth term and more pro-independence MSPs than ever before.

Political analyst Sir John Curtice, commenting on Johnson's remarks, acknowledged that opinion polls suggest there is at least a small majority in favor of independence. However, he noted that the 2014 referendum, which saw 55% of Scots vote to remain in the UK, had failed to resolve Scotland's constitutional status, and that the real challenge for nationalists is to secure a majority of around 60% in order to make a vote difficult to avoid.