Scottish first minister accuses Andy Burnham of ‘terrible ignorance’ over border poll comments

The Scottish first minister criticised the UK prime minister’s border poll comments during a meeting with President Catherine Connolly

President Catherine Connolly, with her husband Brian McEnery (right), is welcomed by Scottish first minister John Swinney, with his wife Elizabeth Quigley (left), to Bute House in Edinburgh. Picture: Steve Welsh/PA Wire

British prime minister Andy Burnham demonstrated “terrible ignorance” of the Good Friday Agreement when he said a border poll was off the table, Scottish first minister John Swinney has said.

Mr Swinney took aim at Mr Burnham following a meeting with President Catherine Connolly in Edinburgh.

“The Prime Minister, first of all, made a terrible error in my view about the way in which he talked about the Good Friday Agreement,” Mr Swinney said.

“I thought it demonstrated a terrible ignorance of the Good Friday Agreement and the ability of the people in the north of Ireland, should they choose to do so, to be able to proceed to have a border poll. That’s absolutely a fundamental part of the Good Friday Agreement.” 

Mr Burnham later u-turned on his “off the table” comments following significant criticism, with the British prime minister saying he would “stick 100% to the Good Friday Agreement”.

Swinney discusses constitutional change

Mr Swinney confirmed he updated Ms Connolly about a meeting between party leaders of Sinn Féin, the SNP and Plaid Cymru, which called on the British Government to “prepare” for constitutional change.

While all three parties lead their respective governments, they met as party leaders rather than as first ministers.

Mr Swinney was asked about criticisms made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin of the meeting, who said the summit may “set back” Irish unity through the alignment of nationalist leaders in Scotland and Wales.

“Fundamentally, the issues around the debates in relation to the future of Ireland are entirely a matter for the people of Ireland,” Mr Swinney said.

“But within that debate is an important principle, which is the principal of self-determination.” 

He said this principle is at the heart of Scotland’s case for independence, adding that there must be an “opportunity and option” to self-determination.

“That’s an essential point of common ground between Scotland and the debate that’s taking place in Ireland around the right of the people of Ireland to decide their own future,” Mr Swinney said.

Asked about the meeting, Mr Swinney said it was a “very comprehensive discussion” between the two about issues impacting both Ireland and Scotland.

He added that it was an opportunity to “cement the very strong relationship between Scotland and Ireland”.

The SNP leader said there were also discussions around international matters, including the “dire situation in Gaza”, war in Ukraine and the war in Iran.

“We also had the opportunity to discuss some of the issues with which we wrestle in Scotland,” Mr Swinney said, citing a debate in Holyrood on violence against women and girls, alongside issues of human rights and equality.

A spokesperson for President Connolly confirmed discussions included talks on “self-determination and independence”, alongside the impact of Brexit on Scotland and the risks of unregulated growth of AI.

Ms Connolly is currently on a four-day visit to Scotland, with engagements due across Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Isle of Skye.