Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish nationalist parties unite over right to self-determination

Leaders of three major nationalist parties from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have jointly declared that their nations

Leaders of three major nationalist parties from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have jointly declared that their nations have the right to determine their own constitutional futures, including the option of leaving the United Kingdom.

The agreement was reached on Monday during a rare meeting in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, bringing together senior figures from the Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein.

The three parties — which support independence or Irish reunification — signed a memorandum of understanding asserting that Westminster should not have the authority to prevent people in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland from deciding their future through democratic means.

“Our nations have the right to self-determination,” the memorandum stated, adding that no UK government should be able to block democratic decisions or undermine the right of people to determine their constitutional status.

SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Sinn Fein leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill attended the meeting in their capacities as party leaders rather than government representatives. O’Neill also serves as Northern Ireland’s first minister, while Swinney and Iorwerth hold senior leadership positions in Scotland and Wales respectively.

Speaking after the agreement was announced, Swinney said the parties were “absolutely united” around the principle of self-determination, describing it as the central idea behind the agreement.

The memorandum also highlighted the growing influence of independence-supporting parties across the devolved nations. It said that, for the first time, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have political leaders committed to ending their countries’ place within the United Kingdom.

The agreement further stated that the future of the three nations should be connected with the European Union.

The SNP is seeking another independence referendum in Scotland after voters rejected independence in the 2014 referendum. Successive UK governments have opposed holding another vote in the immediate future.

In Wales, Plaid Cymru supports independence but has adopted a longer-term approach. Iorwerth has previously ruled out seeking an immediate referendum.

Northern Ireland has a different constitutional process. Sinn Fein supports the reunification of Ireland and has called for a referendum on whether Northern Ireland should leave the UK and join the Republic of Ireland.

The issue gained renewed attention after US President Donald Trump expressed support for a united Ireland. O’Neill said the comments demonstrated that the debate over Irish unity remained active.

Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, a referendum on Irish unity can be held if the UK government’s Northern Ireland secretary believes there is likely to be majority support for reunification.

The agreement followed decades of conflict over Northern Ireland’s constitutional status and established a framework for resolving the issue through democratic consent.

The three nationalist parties acknowledged that they differ over the timing and methods of achieving their respective goals. However, they said their shared commitment to self-determination provided a basis for greater cooperation.

The memorandum described the agreement as a sign of growing political momentum against Westminster’s control and argued that the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should ultimately have the final say over their constitutional future.