The Media Line: Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish Leaders To Sign Joint Declaration on Independence  

Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish Leaders To Sign Joint Declaration on Independence  

By The Media Line Staff  

Nationalist leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will meet in Cardiff on Monday to demand that the British government allow constitutional change and respect calls for independence votes across the three nations.  

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, Scottish National Party leader John Swinney and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding calling on Westminster “to prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.”  

The three will participate as leaders of their political parties rather than in their government positions. Swinney is Scotland’s first minister, ap Iorwerth is Wales’ first minister and O’Neill is Northern Ireland’s first minister.  

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald, who is also Ireland’s opposition leader, will join the gathering at Cardiff Bay.  

According to The Telegraph, the declaration will address self-determination alongside cooperation on the economy, energy and Europe. The participants are also expected to discuss international cooperation and future relations with the European Union.  

The conference follows Plaid Cymru’s victory in the May Senedd elections, which resulted in nationalist or pro-independence parties leading all three devolved UK nations for the first time.  

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office in July, has advocated transferring greater powers and resources to English regions. His position toward further constitutional changes involving Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has been more restrictive.  

Burnham reportedly wrote to Swinney on Thursday saying another vote on Scottish independence would be “off limits” for now.  

According to The Telegraph, Burnham argued there was “no consensus for an independence referendum in Scotland and nor is there a clear basis to suggest that a majority of people in Northern Ireland presently wish to separate from the United Kingdom.”  

The prime minister reportedly said holding such a vote would divert attention from efforts to strengthen the UK economy and reduce living costs.  

Downing Street has maintained that another Scottish independence referendum will not take place before the next general election, while Burnham has said a future vote would require clear public consensus.