'Westminster's time coming to an end': SNP and Plaid Cymru sign agreement with Sinn Fein to push break-up of the UK
The memorandum signed by the leaders in Cardiff calls on the government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change”.
The leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin have declared that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end” in a joint agreement aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold referendums on independence.
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The first ministers of the UK’s three devolved nations – SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill – signed the memorandum of understanding during a meeting in Cardiff on Monday morning.
Along with Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, who is the leader of the opposition in the Irish Dáil, the leaders called on the Government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change”.
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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”.
The leaders add: “Our nations have the right to self-determination. No Westminster government has the right to block democracy or undermine the principle that our people will decide their own future.
“We recognise that our parties have different constitutional positions and that each nation will determine its own future in its own way and in its own time.
“We call for the British Government to prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change in each jurisdiction.”
Scots must be able to express their view on whether to remain in the UK, John Swinney has said.
The First Minister said recent polling showed a majority in favour of breaking away from the union while the recent Holyrood election returned a majority of pro-independence MSPs.
But he said the country had faced “obstruction” from the UK Government, which has repeatedly rejected SNP calls for another referendum.
“The people of Scotland are entitled to decide their own future,” he said during a press conference.
Andy Burnham believes strongly in the United Kingdom and is focused on easing the cost-of-living crisis for households across the country rather than on “constitutional debates”, Downing Street said, following the meeting of leaders from the devolved nations in Cardiff.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is committed to delivering change across all four nations of the United Kingdom and believes strongly in the Union.
“The United Kingdom is at its best when people come together around our shared values and problem-solving, rather than division, and the Prime Minister will continue to ease pressures on household finances, and delivering greater economic security, rather than engaging in constitutional debates or further referendums.”
Asked if the UK Government had sent a representative to the meeting, the spokesman said: “In terms of the nature of that meeting, and indeed his approach more broadly, he works closely with the first and deputy first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“That work is based on partnership and collaboration. The Prime Minister remains focused on that partnership and on the issues that matter most to families across the UK, which includes easing pressures on household finances and delivering greater economic security, rather than engaging in constitutional debates or further referendums.”