Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland leaders intensify push to break away from UK

Europe-Asia, International

CARDIFF, United Kingdom (NPA) — Leaders of the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin have signed a joint declaration asserting the right of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to determine their own constitutional futures.

The declaration was signed in Cardiff on Monday by Scottish First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney, Welsh First Minister and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Northern Ireland First Minister and Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O’Neill.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, who is also leader of the opposition in the Republic of Ireland, attended the meeting. The four leaders participated in the summit in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as officials formally representing their respective governments.

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The declaration states that the three nations have a right to self-determination and calls on the British Government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change” in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The leaders said each nation should be able to determine its future through democratic means and in accordance with the wishes of its people.

Different constitutional positions

The three parties share a commitment to greater constitutional independence from the United Kingdom, but their positions on the timing and process differ.

Swinney has continued to call for another Scottish independence referendum. Scotland held its previous independence referendum in 2014, when voters chose to remain in the UK.

In Wales, ap Iorwerth has not set a timetable for an independence referendum. He has said Wales and Scotland are on different constitutional paths while arguing that Welsh people should have a say in determining the country’s future.

In Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin supports Irish reunification and has continued to advocate a referendum on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland.

Call for constitutional change

The Cardiff declaration says the political landscape across the nations is changing and calls for greater cooperation between the parties.

The leaders also discussed cooperation on areas including the economy, energy and international relations.

A separate Cardiff Agreement was also signed by Swinney and ap Iorwerth on behalf of the Scottish and Welsh governments. That agreement covers cooperation on issues including child poverty, the cost of living, economic growth, climate change, international engagement, language, culture, media and sport.

The self-determination declaration itself does not create an independence referendum or alter the constitutional status of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

It is a political declaration by the participating parties calling for the people of the three nations to have the opportunity to determine their constitutional futures.

The Cardiff meeting therefore brought together nationalist leaders from the three devolved nations, alongside McDonald, to make a coordinated political case for self-determination while acknowledging that the constitutional circumstances and political positions of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are different.