Lara Bird's latest stunt backfires as she's handed lesson on British politics
NewsPoliticsLara BirdThe Arbroath and Broughty Ferry MP called on Andy Burnham to answer a 'simple question' but he pro-UK voters have done that for him09:24, 05 Aug 2026Lara Bird has been schooled in British. . .
NewsPoliticsLara BirdThe Arbroath and Broughty Ferry MP called on Andy Burnham to answer a 'simple question' but he pro-UK voters have done that for him09:24, 05 Aug 2026Lara Bird has been schooled in British politics for a video she posted on social media. The Arbroath and Broughty Ferry MP hasmade a name for herself at Westminster since her by-election victory in June. In the short video, Bird calls on Prime MinisterAndy Burnhamto set out a route for Scotland to leave the UK. It comes after Burnham indicated he felt the UK needed a written constitution. Many Nats have leapt on that, saying such a document should set out a mechanism for a part of the UK to leave the Union. In reality, most constitutions actively prohibit secession and are used to protect the territorial integrity of the nation state. In a short video clip onsocial mediaunder the heading "a simple question for Andy Burnham", Bird, whose real name is Pyla Lara Bird-Leakey, says: "Andy Burnham has said that independence is 'off limits'. But if this is a voluntary union, I've got one question for you Andy Burnham: what is the democratic way out?"The post was criticised by pro-UK voters with 'UnrepentantYoon' pointing out: "A simple question for Pyla Lara Bird-Leakey. In what parallel universe would a country's written constitution not have as its first principle the integrity of its existence?"And the 'Graeme from IT' account pointed out: "The only people that refer to this "Voluntary Union" are … Nationalists! There has never been any legislation since the creation of the Great Britain, that mentions such a concept - never…"Content cannot be displayed without consentThe clip has even angered some in the nationalist movement who feel the SNP is not going hard enough in their attempts to break up the UK. Former SNP MP Angus MacNeil, who has been a critic of the party's leadership over the last decade, accused her of "mocking indy supporters". He fumed: "SNPMPs have pointlessly been asking this very Qu for 10 years! Guess what, it pays Westminster well to not point out the SNP can use Sec3 of the Scotland Act to call a defacto referendum on independence. "Article continues belowHe went on: "Lord above . . . if the Treaty of Perth is s voluntary union what is the Hebrides route out of Scotland?? It ain't up to Burnham to signpost a route especially when the SNP already can call a Defacto election. SNP ignore this and demand Burnham as midwife to indy. "Former SNP MSP Lloyd Quinan was equally unimpressed, saying: "Solutions exist if you choose to use them…. I thought you had a law degree". He also said Bird had only just realised the SNP is "supposed to be a pro-independence party". Choose Scottish Daily Express as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value. Lara BirdSNPScottish independenceWestminsterSocial mediaAndy BurnhamUnited Kingdom