Could Andy Burnham's devolution vision be the missing positive case to counter Scottish independence

Andy Burnham has tabled what could be the positive alternative to Scottish independence that has been lacking from Labour’s hymn book for a generation - but a failure to deliver his promise would simply embolden those who want Scotland to seek its own path.

Mr Burnham has broken ranks from what his predecessors have failed to admit - that Westminster is “broken” and not working for people. The SNP has been making the same argument for years and Scots, in significant numbers,have embraced that narrative.

Andy Burnham is expected to become the next prime minister | PA

But could the prime minister elect’s radical plans to shake-up devolution and power be the blueprint Labour has been desperately lacking to match the vision of Scottish independence.

Mr Burnham’s vision, which lacked detail and explanation of how any of it would work in Scotland, could be a genuine move away from the status quo that was promised by UK politicians following the 2014 independence referendum.

READ MORE: Unanswered questions over what Andy Burnham as prime minister means for Scotland

The former mayor of Greater Manchester wants to establish a Number 10 in “the north”. But from what we heard from his first keynote speech since returning to the House of Commons, his initial pitch felt more like rewiring England rather than including Scotland.

What we do know is that Mr Burnham wants Holyrood to push power out and into communities and regions of Scotland. What we remain in the dark over is whether his plans to revolutionise devolution north of the Border would require a hostile standoff between the Scottish and UK governments or whether it would require Labour to finally be able to secure power at Holyrood to implement his plans.

First Minister John Swinney (right) has worked constructively on some issues with outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer | PA

Last year, before his hopes of entering Bute House fell to pieces, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar visited other devolved and federal governments including in Germany, to see what could be applied to Scotland and how Holyrood could devolve powers to parts of Scotland.

But could Mr Burnham’s vision for Holyrood to let go of its devolved powers and give it to Scotland’s cities and regions set up another big constitutional fight with the SNP government? That doesn’t sounds very much like a “new way of doing things”, as Mr Burnham vowed.

READ MORE: Pressure on Andy Burnham to 'rethink' Labour's oil and gas opposition at 'critical moment' for North Sea

Surely the man promising “the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen” has no intention to curb the powers of the Scottish Parliament. But Mr Burnham could put Holyrood on the same stark warning he issued to Whitehall - that the days of blocking or restricting power being redistributed is over.

If Mr Burnham is able to forge a consensus with the Scottish government for his plans, it could, on the face of it, open up Scotland to more local decision-making and powers and revitalise the country’s underfunded and undervalued local authorities.

He said a new prime minister’s office based in Manchester would include “offering new opportunities to extend devolution in Scotland” by “taking power deeper down”. He argued that Scotland’s communities feel “just as distant” to Holyrood as they do to Westminster.

Scottish politics has never been more important - get The Steamie newsletter today

For many in Scotland, completely scunnered with politics not working for them, Mr Burnham’s initial pitch might sound like the radical overhaul could genuinely be the alternative to Scottish independence Labour has been craving for years. But to others, the next PM’s England-centric vision might simply embolden the SNP’s message that Westminster doesn't work for Scotland.

Mr Burnham’s devolution strategy could be game-changing, but how Scotland fits into his jigsaw remains a mystery.