Burnham promises 'regional empowerment' ahead of devolution summit in Glasgow

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham travelled to Glasgow on 30 October to meet the leaders of the Scottish and Welsh governments. The summit is due to discuss what he calls "the next stage of devolution", meaning the transfer of power and decision-making to lower levels of government. According to Downing Street's briefing, Burnham is less interested in handing more powers to the devolved parliaments than in promoting "regional empowerment" inside each nation.

Before the meeting, Burnham said he would invite each nation's government to put politics aside and work with the UK government on models of regional empowerment. Downing Street said he would argue that devolution should go deeper than moving powers from one parliament to another. In a separate statement, Burnham admitted that his first budget as prime minister was less radical than he would have liked, because of economic uncertainty.

Scotland's position

Scottish First Minister John Swinney, of the Scottish National Party (SNP), would rather discuss devolving further powers from London to Edinburgh. He urged London to work with the Scottish government on the proposals it has submitted. The SNP's priorities include greater control over taxation, immigration, employment law and energy policy.

Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth will also attend. Since the May elections, in which Plaid Cymru won in Wales, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have for the first time all had first ministers from nationalist parties that want to leave the UK. Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin will not attend, because her DUP deputy, with whom she shares power, has vetoed the attendance amid a row over Drumcree. Officials will go instead.

New defence procurement policy

The Ministry of Defence announced that overseas companies winning UK defence contracts worth over £50m may be required to invest back into Britain through jobs, factories, domestic suppliers and technology transfer. For example, a £100m contract could bring benefits worth up to £100m. The ministry says Poland, Norway and the Netherlands use similar policies.