Burnham invites Swinney to work together on 'deeper Scottish devolution'

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Burnham has said he wants Swinney's government to help him deliver economic benefits to Scotland

The prime minister has invited the Scottish government to work with the UK government to put "power back in the hands" of regions.

Andy Burnham said he wanted the two governments to start work on a new deal for regional economic development in the next few months, including an offer of devolution from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Speaking at an event in North Lanarkshire, Burnham called for further powers to be devolved from Holyrood to local areas before that happened.

Before Burnham's speech, Swinney said he was interested in "working constructively" with Westminster, adding he was "all for the Scottish Parliament having as many powers" as possible.

Burnham acknowledged that the Scottish government was working on local government reform, but said this had to "move faster".