Leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sign independence cooperation pact

On September 14, 2026, the leaders of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland gathered in Cardiff for an unprecedented meeting to coordinate efforts regarding the constitutional future of their respective nations. John Swinney of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Rhun ap Iorwerth of Plaid Cymru, and Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin, accompanied by Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, signed a memorandum of understanding to advocate for self-determination and the right to hold independence referendums. The participants attended in their capacity as party leaders rather than as official government heads.

This initiative comes amid mounting political pressure on British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who recently suggested that a new Scottish independence referendum could be considered if there were a 'clear consensus.' The meeting was further contextualized by recent remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly expressed support for a united Ireland during a visit to Dublin, fueling discussions regarding the potential dissolution of the current United Kingdom structure. This marks the first time that all three devolved UK nations are governed by parties openly favoring secession from the Union, signaling a significant shift in internal British political dynamics since the establishment of autonomous institutions in 1999.