Leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed a memorandum of understanding in Cardiff on Monday pledging to break up the United Kingdom. The agreement was signed by SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill. The nationalist leaders called it a “historic” moment and said the pact is designed to put renewed pressure on Downing Street to permit independence referendums.
The memorandum states that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end” and calls for the right to self-determination across the three nations. Swinney said a pro-independence majority of MSPs in Scotland, including the Scottish Greens, should be enough to trigger another referendum, and cited polling trends showing support for independence in Scotland. He also referenced comments by Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggesting a Scottish referendum could happen if there was clear public support.
The summit focused on closer cooperation on the economy, energy, Europe and constitutional issues. Organisers said the deal would not immediately dissolve the UK, but would establish closer cooperation among pro-independence leaders and increase political pressure.
Experts downplayed the significance, noting the agreement contained no concrete new proposals for how independence or Irish reunification would be achieved. For Northern Ireland there is already an agreed process to leave the UK under the Good Friday Agreement, while any referendum for Scotland and Wales must be sanctioned by Westminster.
The leaders are expected to address the media after signing the memorandum.
