Leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding calling for constitutional change and asserting their nations’ right to decide their own future.
The Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru in Wales and the pro-Irish unity Sinn Fein want to break away from the UK, although under different timelines and conditions. Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Welsh leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill signed the agreement at a summit in Cardiff.
The pact said the political landscape across the UK was changing and called on the British government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change” in the three nations.
The rare meeting in the Welsh capital came
just days after US President Donald Trump waded in on the issue, saying he would back a united Ireland.
His comments showed “the unity debate is very much alive”, Northern Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill said alongside fellow party leaders as they announced a memorandum of understanding.
“Our nations have the right to self-determination. No Westminster government (the UK government) has the right to block democracy or undermine the principle that our people will decide their own future,” the agreement said.
‘Westminster’s Time Is Coming To An End’
The leaders said their nations had the right to self-determination and that no Westminster government should block democratic decisions about their future.
“For people watching across these islands — for people watching around the world — there could be no clearer sign that Westminster’s time is coming to an end,” the memorandum said as quoted by news agency AFP.
The agreement also called for greater cooperation among the three nations in areas including the economy and energy. It said the future of the nations lies within the European Union.
The pact is significant as the main political forces backing independence or Irish unity are now the largest parties in the three devolved legislatures.
Different Goals, Common Call For Self-Determination
The Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru in Wales and Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland have different timelines and objectives.
Swinney has called for another Scottish independence referendum. Scotland voted 55 per cent to 45 per cent against independence in the 2014 referendum.
In Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein supports reunification with the Republic of Ireland. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement provides for a referendum on Irish unity if the UK government believes there is likely to be majority support for it.
Plaid Cymru supports Welsh independence but ap Iorwerth has not set a timetable for a referendum.
UK Government Rejects Breakup Concerns
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government played down the significance of the pact, saying the prime minister strongly believes in the United Kingdom.
Downing Street said Burnham was more focused on tackling the cost-of-living crisis than on constitutional debates. His spokesperson said the UK was strongest when people worked together around shared values.
Conservative shadow Scottish secretary Harriet Cross described the gathering as a “separatist summit” and a “performative photo call”.
Northern Ireland Tensions
The agreement also triggered criticism within Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) accused O’Neill of using her position as first minister to support the pact without the agreement of the unionist side.
O’Neill defended her participation, saying the meeting reflected “historic change happening all around us”.
The summit came days after US President Donald Trump said he would “love to see” a reunified Ireland, bringing renewed attention to the issue of Irish unity.
Political experts said the agreement has no immediate legal effect but could strengthen cooperation among the three nations and keep questions over the future of the UK at the centre of political debate.
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