NEW Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told Scotland’s First Minister they would have to “agree to disagree” on separation, according to Westminster government sources.

The topic was raised in a telephone conversation between the respective heads of government this morning, just hours after Mr Burnham formally took office.

John Swinney welcomed Mr Burnham into the role with an invitation to visit Scotland “at the earliest opportunity.”

But pointing to the pro-separation majority recently elected to Holyrood, he went on to press the case for the powers to call a second referendum on separation to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

A Labour government spokesman, however, made clear that the new Prime Minister would not countenance such a move and was interested in “practical measures, not constitutional changes like further referendums, to give families more breathing room by helping them with the cost of living, which he had done today by helping millions of households with their energy bills.”

“When the question of independence was raised, the Prime Minister was quite firm they would have to agree to disagree,” he said.

“It’s not something he’s focused on and it’s not a conversation that he’s interested in taking forward.”

Despite that clear dividing line, however, the conversation was described as “quite warm and constructive,” a view apparently shared by Mr Swinney, who said: “The Prime Minister and I have different views on the constitution, but I’ve got a mandate to take forward and that mandate from the people of Scotland.”

Calling the conversation “positive,” he added: “He made it clear he wanted to operate in a constructive and positive way with the Scottish government and I welcome that indication from the Prime Minister.”