Sir Keir Starmer pledges Scotland will be 'beating heart' of new Labour Government

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to put Scotland “back at the beating heart” of everything the UK Government does as he prepares to travel north of the border.

The Prime Minister will visit Edinburgh on Sunday as he begins a tour of the UK to meet with the heads of the devolved governments as part of an immediate reset in the way UK Government works with them.

Sir Keir said he was offering the Scottish Government a “genuine seat at the table” and that they could deliver change for a generation through “meaningful co-operation”.

He is expected to meet Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney on Sunday and hold a substantive discussion on the pressing issues and areas where both governments can work together.

It comes after the two men spoke on the phone on Friday evening, the day the Prime Minister came into office.

Speaking ahead of the visit to Scotland, Sir Keir said: “Our UK Government will place Scotland back at the beating heart of everything we do.

“To the people of Scotland my message is simple and clear: You are at the heart of how we unleash prosperity across the country. We will rebuild a strong Scotland at the forefront of our decade of national renewal.

“My offer to the Scottish Government is the same. We can turn disagreement into co-operation and, through meaningful co-operation and a genuine seat at the table, deliver change for a generation.”

In the phone call with Sir Keir on Friday evening, Mr Swinney congratulated the new Prime Minister on his appointment and committed to working co-operatively with the UK Government on “areas of mutual interest”.

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “He committed to working collaboratively and co-operatively with the UK Government on areas of mutual interest.

“The First Minister has outlined his priorities in government and believes there are many ways in which the two governments can work together to deliver progress on them for the benefit of people in Scotland.”

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.