THOUSANDS have signed a fresh petition demanding a second referendum on Scottish independence after Andy Burnham set out the conditions for one, with an email being sent straight to the Prime Minister's inbox.
Around 23,000 Scots had already signed the so-called “action petition” organised by Believe in Scotland (BiS), which organisers say will trigger emails that will be “automatically sent to your MSPs, MP, and the Prime Minister” urging them to support the campaign.
Since the email was refreshed to address Burnham's comments at PMQs on Wednesday, more than 4000 additional signatures have been made (as of Wednesday at 8pm).
Part of the email says: "I take you at your word. A majority supporting another referendum should mean Scotland gets one. Evidence of that support already exists."
The campaign organisation said signatories who had previously signed to send the previous version of the email to former prime minister Keir Starmer can sign again to send the updated message just to Burnham and Douglas Alexander.
Founder Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp said: "We want to push this campaign well beyond 25,000 signatures and turn support into pressure.
"Ipsos in May 2026 found that only 22% said there should never be another referendum. Around two-thirds wanted a new referendum at some point. Burnham should understand Scottish opinion before claiming to speak for it."
MacIntyre-Kemp shared that the group now aims to commission an independent poll on support for a second independence referendum and "publish the results whatever they show".
"We think there is already enough support to meet Burnham's indyref2 criteria and if we see where support needs building, we will build it," he pledged.
The full email being sent to Burnham, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander and their local MPs and MSPs demanding a second referendum states:
"As a voter registered in Scotland, I am writing to ask you to recognise the evidence of majority support for another independence referendum and agree the powers needed to hold it.
"Answering Chris Law MP, you referred to changing public opinion as the basis for considering a border poll in Northern Ireland. You then said: 'I would say that it is exactly the same situation in Scotland.” You went on to identify majority public support for another referendum as your condition.
"I take you at your word. A majority supporting another referendum should mean Scotland gets one. Evidence of that support already exists.
"Ipsos in May 2026 found that only 22% said there should never be another referendum and 55% wanted another referendum within ten years (within not in 10 years). Around two-thirds wanted one at some point. This was a question about holding a referendum, not whether people would vote for independence.
"An April 2026 Survation poll also found that 52% believed a majority of seats for pro-independence parties at May’s Scottish Parliament election would give the Scottish Government a mandate to hold another referendum.
"Scotland subsequently elected its largest ever pro-independence majority. On 26 May, the Scottish Parliament voted to demand that the UK Government transfer the powers required to hold another independence referendum. That democratic mandate deserves to be respected.
"You do not have to support independence to support Scotland’s right to choose. You are entitled to make your case for the Union. The decision on Scotland’s future should belong to the people who live here.
"I therefore ask you to recognise the polling evidence, respect the Scottish Parliament’s mandate and agree without further delay to transfer the powers needed for a second independence referendum. I support September 2028 as the proposed date and ask you to begin talks with Scotland’s First Minister to make that possible.
"Please respond directly to the evidence in this letter and explain what action you will take. Repeating your opposition to a referendum would not answer the case being put to you.
"You said you were unaware of majority support. This letter puts that evidence before you. Please act on it and respect Scotland’s right to choose.
"Yours for Scotland."
