Andy Burnham's expected move to Downing Street could be a "game changer" that unlocks a long-sought devolution deal for Glasgow, the city's SNP council leader has said.
Writing in The Herald, Susan Aitken, who is also chair of the Glasgow City Region, said she was "pretty confident" that the future Prime Minister and former Mayor of Greater Manchester would support the case for devolving more powers to Glasgow.
For some months now, the Glasgow City Region - Glasgow and its seven surrounding council areas - has been pushing both the UK and Scottish governments for a new £400 million-a-year, Manchester-style devolution settlement.
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The proposal, which has cross-party support, would give the city region direct control over skills, transport, business support and major development sites, along with funding currently channelled through national agencies.
Cllr Aitken said it was effectively "a devolution deal matching those already provided to our peers in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands".
While the Scottish Government has signed up to the deal, Cllr Aitken said the Treasury and Scotland Office had been dismissive.
"After some positive early discussions with former Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray, both the Treasury and Scotland Office have since retreated to a position which is, in essence: 'Nothing to do with us, pal.'"
A UK Government spokesperson described that claim as "nonsense".
Cllr Aitken, who is due to stand down in September, shared platforms with Mr Burnham on a number of occasions, including during COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.
"Andy Burnham's imminent elevation could be the game changer that unlocks a fair deal for Glasgow and our fellow Celtic city regions," Cllr Aitken wrote. "As was clear from our shared agendas in 2021, he and I share a passionate belief in the power of place.
"And I believe his advocacy for cities and metro regions and their central role as generators of economic and social good is deeply held. Andy has seen how much can be achieved when empowered local leaders are given the right tools."
Read Susan Aitken's column in full here
She said that if her remaining time as council leader overlapped with a Burnham government, she would press him on a Glasgow devolution deal, on accelerating the Clyde Metro, as well as on wider concerns around climate change and support for refugees.
Glasgow is in the midst of a refugee homelessness crisis. Council figures show households granted protection now account for 44% of all homelessness applications. The authority spent £27 million on refugee-related homelessness in 2024/25.
Recent estimates suggest the overall cost of homelessness services could reach around £56m in 2026/27, with warnings it could rise to £70m or even £90m in the years that follow.
The crisis is being driven by the interaction of UK asylum rules with Scotland's broader homelessness rights.
In England, councils only owe the full housing duty to those in "priority need".
Scotland abolished that test in 2012, meaning all unintentionally homeless people can be entitled to settled accommodation.
That has seen Scotland's largest city become a magnet for asylum seekers granted refugee status in other parts of the UK.
Glasgow City Council has repeatedly urged the Home Office to step in and help cover the cost.
Cllr Aitken said: "Andy has had many great ideas on the power of cities and city regions during his time leading Greater Manchester. Now is his chance to put those ideas into practice on the big stage. And if he does, I'll be putting Glasgow right at the head of the queue."
Mr Burnham is expected to make a speech on economy and regional development on Monday, in which allies say he will set out a "big devolution offer" to metro mayors and possibly the devolved administrations.
According to the Spectator, Mr Burnham's economic advisers include Jim O'Neill, the former Goldman Sachs chief economist who coined the term "Northern Powerhouse" under George Osborne, and Andy Haldane, the former chief economist at the Bank of England. Both are advocates for borrowing to invest in regional growth.
The speech, which seven people are reportedly working on, will set out Mr Burnham's ambition to "unlock regional growth potential" and shift the "centre of political gravity away from being solely in London".
Mr Burnham is also planning to move part of the No 10 operation to Manchester, according to the Financial Times.
The move is expected to feature in his speech next week and would make him the first prime minister to base part of his operation outside the capital.
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Responding to Cllr Aitken's criticisms, a UK Government spokesperson said: "This is nonsense.
"The Scottish Secretary has been calling for a new crusade on devolution within Scotland.
"Susan Aitken should be asking why the Scottish Government has spent two decades hoarding powers and resources at Holyrood, to the significant detriment of local authorities across Scotland.
"The UK Government is driving economic growth right across Scotland, including — as Susan Aitken herself acknowledges — through regional Innovation Accelerators, Investment Zones, support from the UK National Wealth Fund, Local Innovation Partnerships, and £520 million of UK Government funding in the Glasgow Region City Deal."
Andy Burnham's campaign team was approached for comment.
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