Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties have reached an agreement with Sinn Féin to work together on efforts aimed at breaking up the United Kingdom.
The leaders of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru unveiled a “memorandum of understanding” with Irish republican leaders ahead of a planned “separatist summit” in Cardiff.
John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth, Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald agreed to cooperate on shared objectives, including “supporting the right of each nation to determine its own future”.
Mr Swinney described the gathering of leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as a “pivotal moment in the constitutional journey of the UK”.
The Scottish First Minister said there should be “no obstacle” preventing people in the three devolved nations from being “able to determine their own future”. He added that the countries should be able to “move forward” and “decide their own future”.
The Cardiff meeting drew an angry response from pro-union politicians, coming shortly after US President Donald Trump voiced his support for a united Ireland.
Rachael Hamilton, the Scottish Conservatives’ deputy leader, said: “The majority of Scots don’t want another damaging and divisive referendum. They want Swinney to do his actual job.”
(right to left) John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill pledged to cooperate on shared objectives, including “supporting the right of each nation to determine its own future”
The leaders of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru announced a “memorandum of understanding” with Irish republican leaders ahead of a planned “separatist summit” in Cardiff
Trump doubled down on his support for Irish unity, describing it as “one of the naturals of all time”
“But he would rather waste a working day on separatist fantasy league politics. This follows a week in which the SNP’s failures in education were brutally exposed by PISA scores that placed Scotland well behind England.
“The former education secretary should be answering questions about how badly he has let down pupils, parents and teachers.”
Ms Little-Pengelly, the DUP joint head of the Stormont powersharing Executive, accused Ms O’Neill of attempting to ‘weaponise the role of First Minister’.
In a social media post she said: ‘Let me be absolutely clear. Michelle O’Neill is not travelling to this ”summit” as First Minister, she has no authority to present herself as representing the FM role at any such ‘summit’ and nor does she have any authority to sign anything as First Minister of Northern Ireland at any such ”summit’.’
‘She has not sought any agreement or permission from me to travel, attend or sign anything as First Minister.’
It came after Mr Trump doubled down on his comments in support of Irish unity, saying it was ‘one of the naturals of all time’.
Speaking on the second day of his trip to Ireland, Mr Trump also dismissed the diplomatic backlash to his remarks, which have dominated his trip.
The group, who met in their capacity as party leaders – rather than as officials in their respective governments, also stated their ambitions for partnership around the economy, energy and international co-operation.
The agreement says: ‘The political landscape across these islands is changing.
‘For the first time ever, people across these islands have first ministers in Scotland, in Wales and in the North of Ireland who are all committed to independence from the United Kingdom.
‘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.
‘We believe there is a better way: nations working together as equals, sharing ideas and expertise, and building relationships based on mutual respect and common interests.
‘Momentum is behind our movements; we believe that constitutional change is coming.
‘We therefore commit to strengthening cooperation between our parties and identifying practical areas where working together can make a real difference.’
The agreement sets out plans to ‘reject Whitehall’s broken economic model’ and share ideas on economic growth, expand energy resources, and states that ‘the future of our nations belongs in the European Union’.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the agreement was was ‘historic’, adding: ‘It is that moment where we assert collectively our inalienable right to decide our futures.’
