Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders sign Cardiff pact demanding UK independence referendums
The first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed a pact in Cardiff on Monday calling for independence from the United Kingdom, declaring that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end.”
Scottish National Party leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill signed the memorandum of understanding as party leaders, not as government representatives. They were joined by Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald. The document asserts the right of their nations to self-determination and demands the British government “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change in each jurisdiction.”
Swinney and O’Neill called for referendums on Scottish independence and Irish reunification, while ap Iorwerth did not set a timetable for a Welsh vote. The pact states their nations’ future lies within the European Union.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said a referendum remains “off the table” until public opinion clearly shifts. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement requires a referendum on Irish reunification if a majority is believed to support it.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of the Democratic Unionist Party criticized O’Neill’s attendance, stating she did not seek permission to sign the pact on behalf of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government.
Follow us for live European news
Articles
UKs Starmer aims to overhaul EU ties at key summit
gdeltproject.org · about 3 hours ago
UK chancellor offers pact to chief executives on growth John Healey pledges to provide fiscal and economic discipline in return for investment and jobs
financial times · about 3 hours ago
Los líderes nacionalistas de Escocia, Gales e Irlanda del Norte se unen por la independencia El ministro principal de Escocia plantea un referéndum para 2031 y Burnham lo ve "fuera de la mesa". Leer
expansion · about 3 hours ago
UKs unity threatened by pact between Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland The leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland signed a pact on Monday that threatens to lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom. The first ministers of the three semi-autonomous regions of the UK told Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his government to prepare for constitutional change and that their future lies with the European Union. For people watching across these islands – for people watching around the world – there could be no clearer sign that Westminsters time is coming to an...
south china morning post · about 3 hours ago
Scotland and Wales renew push for independence — using Burnhams own rhetoric Leaders of three devolved nations take part in historic meeting in Cardiff
financial times · about 3 hours ago
Nationalist leaders say U.K. union "coming to an end" The first ministers of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales united Monday behind calls to leave the United Kingdom in an unprecedented alignment of nationalist leaders.Why it matters: For the first time, all three first ministers favor leaving the U.K. — and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill says President Trumps support for a united Ireland has taken the debate global.Driving the news: The nationalist leaders of the Scottish National Party, Sinn Féin and Plaid Cymru met in Cardiff, Wales, on Monday to sign a memorandum of understanding declaring that the "political landscape across these islands is changing."The SNPs John Swinney, Sinn Féins ONeill and Plaid Cymrus Rhun ap Iorwerth met as leaders of their respective parties, not as representatives of their regional governments.Swinney and ONeill called for referenda on independence from the U.K. during a news conference, but ap Iorwerth is pushing for similar regional powers as in Northern Ireland and Scotland and has ruled out holding a referendum during this term.What theyre saying: "For people watching across these islands – for people watching around the world – there could be no clearer sign that Westminsters time is coming to an end," the memo said."Momentum is behind our movements; we believe that constitutional change is coming," it added."We call for the British Government to prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change in each jurisdiction."Zoom in: ONeill told reporters that Trumps support for Irish reunification during a two-day visit over the weekend reflected a "growing conversation around constitutional change at home in Ireland."She said the debate was happening "not just at home, but obviously now internationally as well" and Trumps intervention showed Irish unification is "very much on the table."Yes, but: A spokesperson for U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Trumps comments dont change his stance that its premature to call for independence referenda until public opinion clearly shifts.The 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended decades of conflict in Northern Ireland, requires a referendum on Irish reunification if the British government believes a majority would support it.The other side: Trumps comments drew backlash from British lawmakers and unionists, including Northern Irelands Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly who criticized ONeills attendance at the summit in an interview with the BBC."She has not sought any agreement or permission from me to travel, attend or sign anything as first minister," the Democratic Unionist Party politician said.Little-Pengelly stressed that she and ONeill jointly lead Northern Irelands power-sharing government and ONeill was not there on official government business.Go deeper: Why Trumps united Ireland stance hit such a nerve
axios · about 3 hours ago
Party leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland say future belongs back in EU The main parties from each nation want to break away from the UK but have different positions on how and when this might take place.
euronews · about 3 hours ago
Recseg az Egyesült Királyság: a skót, északír és walesi első miniszterek közösen álltak ki a függetlenedés mellett Skócia 2031-ig újabb függetlenségi népszavazást akar, a walesi és az északír vezetés is önrendelkezést sürget.
444.hu · about 3 hours ago
Hoe verenigd is het Verenigd Koninkrijk nog? Nationalistische regeringsleiders zetten Londen onder druk: Onze toekomst ligt in de EU
de morgen · about 3 hours ago
Valt het VK uit elkaar? Roep om referendum voor onafhankelijkheid Het rommelt in het Verenigd Koninkrijk. De regeringsleiders van Schotland, Wales en Noord-Ierland bundelen de krachten. Gezamenlijk willen zij onafhankelijkheid weer op de kaart zetten en eisen ze een referendum voor afsplitsing.
rtl nieuws · about 3 hours ago
Scoția, Țara Galilor și Irlanda de Nord cer autodeterminare Londrei: ce urmăresc liderii regionali și de ce UE e miza principală Liderii din Scoţia, Ţara Galilor şi Irlanda de Nord, reuniţi luni la Cardiff, au semnat o declaraţie comună pentru a-şi revendica „dreptul la autodeterminare şi au afirmat că viitorul naţiunilor lor se află în Uniunea Europeană, relatează AFP.
digi24 · about 3 hours ago
Nationalistische leiders uit Schotland, Wales en Noord-Ierland tekenen onafhankelijkheidspact
trouw · about 3 hours ago
Nordirland, Schottland und Wales: Ach wie schön wäre die Unabhängigkeit Die Parteichefs der Unabhängigkeitsparteien von Wales, Schottland und Nordirland sagen London den Kampf an. Premier Andy Burnham reagiert verhalten. mehr...
taz.de · about 3 hours ago
Leaders of the main Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh nationalist parties on Monday declared their right to choose whether to remain in the UK, with all three seeing their future as nations within the European Union. READ: Follow @InsiderPaper for more news
telegram_Insider Paper · about 4 hours ago