Sir Keir Starmer has committed to greater collaboration between the UK Government and devolved nations at the first sitting of the Council of the Leaders and Nations, held today in Edinburgh.
The Prime Minister was joined by First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, Eluned Morgan of Wales and Northern Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill, along with council leaders from across England.
The quarterly council gathering follows up on a Labour manifesto promise to restructure the relationships between Westminster and the devolved nations around Britain.
It replaces the Joint Ministerial Committee and was pitched to renew collaboration between governments after complaints were raised previously about the aptitude of consecutive Tory Prime Ministers to ignore and override the will of devolved nations.
Sir Keir Starmer held the the Council of the Leaders and Nations todayPAScottish First Minister John Swinney had said today’s meeting should provide opportunities to “speak frankly about the big issues facing Scotland.”
Starmer said the UK should “harness” the different identities in the country, adding he sees facilitating collaboration between them as a “responsibility of this Government”.
He told those present: “This council is a statement of intent on my behalf and on behalf of the Government about the way in which we want to work with all of you.
“I think that is as important as the substance of what we discuss, is how we collaborate, how we work together.
“Because the UK is really strong, we’ve got so much to offer, particularly when it comes to growth and investment, but we are a bit complicated.”
He made a commitment that all leaders in attendance would be “equal voices”, with a view to “solving problems”.
The Prime Minister was joined by First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, Eluned Morgan of Wales and Northern Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill,
PA
Ahead of the Government’s investment summit on Monday, the Prime Minister set the main topic of discussion in Edinburgh as “investment and growth”.
“Growing the economy is the number one mission of this Government,” he said.
“We’re not unique in that, most governments, nations and regions want to grow the economy.
“But the question is not the aspiration, it’s whether we can roll up our sleeves and work together to deliver that growth, because that unlocks so much.”
Despite her role transition into an envoy to the regions and nations, former Downing Street Chief of Staff, Sue Gray, did not attend the meeting in Edinburgh.
The Chief of Staff role has since been filled by Morgan McSweeny, widely accredited for Labour’s sweeping General Election victory in July.
Gray said, “intense commentary about my position” risked becoming a “distraction”.
Despite the first sitting of the council taking place in Scotland, Scottish council leaders were not invited to take part despite invites being sent to Manchester’s Andy Burnham and Liverpool’s Steve Rotherham, along with nine others from across England.
A letter co-signed by six SNP MSPs and Glasgow Council leader Susan Aitken was sent to the Prime Minister.
They said: “We are writing to express out grave concern that you have chosen to exclude all of Scotland’s local authority leaders, while inviting local leaders from across England.”
The letter points out that having no representatives from Aberdeen, the proposed location of GB Energy, “makes little sense”.
Council and devolved leaders who were part of today’s meeting are also invited to attend next week’s investment summit, according to the UK Government, which the Prime Minister hopes to attract around 300 business leaders.
The event will draw a line under Starmer’s first 100 days in office, which has been mired by outcry over gift acceptance and infighting among his advisors.