Burnham to tackle independence then save the NHS

Andy Burnham has emerged as an unlikely leader in efforts to engage the north of England with Scotland’s independence vote.

The Shadow Health Secretary plans to lead a delegation of business and political leaders from the north of England to Scotland to campaign for a No vote.

Dismissing accusations that Labour’s Shadow Cabinet meeting in Glasgow last week was a stunt, he’s promised it will be the first of many trips to Scotland he’ll make in the run-up to the referendum.

He also spoke emotionally about how much the Union means to him. He said: “I’m getting more fired up over this issue. Scotland is going to see more of me.

“The north of England is watching what’s going on in Scotland and taking it more seriously. The voice of the north of England needs to be heard.

“When Alex Salmond appears on TV talking about England, he’s often talking about London, really. Many of my constituents feel they have more in common with Scots than the south of England.

“I want to bring people from the north of England up to Scotland, from Liverpool and Manchester people who will be affected if Scotland votes for separation to say that we’re better off as we are.”

The health brief Burnham holds is devolved but he rubbishes SNP claims that only independence will protect the NHS from privatisation.

“It’s spin,” he said. “What separation does is open up questions about what happens to cross-border healthcare, the ties between hospitals in Newcastle and people just over the border, for example. All that gets changed and there’s no guarantees after a Yes vote.”

On current projections he will be back in the post of Health Secretary, which he held under Gordon Brown, following a Labour win in next year’s General Election. Would he really close the border to Scottish patients and end co-operation?

“I wouldn’t say that it would end, but these things become more complicated. As Health Secretary I had to deal with an issue over the Isle of Man where the Treasury wanted to renegotiate the relationship. I had to step in and iron things out, but it caused a lot of upset. The last thing you want if you’re ill is uncertainty.”

He has pledged to undo Tory reforms to the Health Service in England.

He said: “I’m very clear in saying that I will repeal the Health and Social Care Act. I am vehemently against the privatisation of the NHS and the current Government’s policy to wreck its enduring values.”

Burnham represents Leigh, a Manchester seat, but grew up in Liverpool. He remains a staunch Everton fan and he was instrumental in reopening the investigation into the Hillsborough disaster that ultimately cleared Liverpool fans of causing the crush that killed 96 of their number.

He points to his work on the issue with Liverpool and Scotland legend, Kenny Dalglish, as evidence of the close ties between his city and Scotland.

He added: “I’ve still got the hat I wore as a kid that is half-Celtic and half-Everton. In my own club, Duncan Ferguson is the first team coach and no-one is more of a legend at Everton than Big Dunc.

“The links between the Mersey and the Clyde, for example, can’t be ignored. They mean something, they matter. Don’t underestimate how much this means to me personally.”

Burnham reveals he has Scottish ancestry and his middle name is Murray. “I’m Andy Murray!” he laughed.

But he’s more serious when illustrating further family reasons for his feelings about the Union.

He added: “We’re approaching the anniversary of World War One in which my great-grandfather died. I have his letters in which he says he’s proud to be fighting alongside Irish and Scottish soldiers.”

After the Shadow Cabinet met in Glasgow on Friday, Ed Miliband and his Shadow Ministers fanned out across Scotland to bang the drum for the Union.

Burnham visited a health programme at Hampden Park, once again emphasising his links with football. However, he did reveal a Shadow Cabinet split.

He disagrees with colleague Jim Murphy’s recently reported, but unprintable, four-letter assessment of England’s World Cup chances.

He said: “That was just light-hearted provocation. England might surprise a few people.”