First Minister John Swinney raised indyref2 in his first conversation with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Swinney told the PM he “looked forward” to talks on Scotland’s future – despite the Labour Government opposing a referendum.
The telephone call took place on Tuesday morning on the day after Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as PM.
Burnham is a committed devolutionist who has backed more powers being handed to the nations and regions.
However, he favours more responsibilities being given to local communities north of the border, rather than the Holyrood parliament.
He is also opposed to indyref2 – the top demand of Swinney’s administration.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said of the talks: “In a telephone call this morning, the First Minister congratulated the new Prime Minister on his appointment. He set out his commitment to both governments working constructively together to address the cost-of-living crisis and to lower energy bills.
“The First Minister set out the majority within the Scottish Parliament for the future of Scotland to be decided by the people of Scotland and looked forward to a constructive dialogue on this issue.
“The First Minister also extended an invitation to host the Prime Minister at Bute House at the earliest opportunity.”
The Government’s constructive statement was in contrast to an SNP press release on Douglas Alexander remaining as Scottish Secretary.
Swinney believes relations have soured since Alexander took over and he would have preferred a different Scottish Labour MP in charge.
SNP MP David Linden said: “Douglas Alexander masterminded the Labour Party’s worst ever defeat in Scotland, sat silent as thousands of oil and gas jobs were lost in Scotland and was shamed over disgraceful message exchanges with Peter Mandelson – he pulled the wool over Starmer’s eyes and it seems he’s repeated the trick with Burnham.
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“Scotland doesn’t need this servant of Westminster having any say over our future – if Andy Burnham is serious about where power lies on these islands then his first instruction to Douglas Alexander should be to respect the democratic will of the Scottish Parliament and give the Scottish people the right to decide our constitutional future.
“Westminster has failed Scotland and no one is more part of that London based Westminster establishment than Douglas Alexander – through a fresh start with independence, we can build a wealthier Scotland anew, free of broken, Brexit Britain.”