First ministers predict imminent breakup of UK at ‘landmark’ summitThe first ministers of the UK’s three devolved nations met in Cardiff on Monday morning.John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill, during the meeting in Cardiff on Monday (Ben Birchall/PA)PA WireEleanor Storey3 minutes ago
The breakup of the UK is imminent, leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin have forecast during a “landmark” summit aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold independence referendums.
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 – met in Cardiff on Monday morning to declare jointly that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end”.
Along with Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, who is the leader of the opposition in the Irish Dáil, the group called on the Government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change”.
During what Mr Swinney described as a “landmark day”, he predicted Andy Burnham would be “the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom” and said a Scottish independence referendum should happen within the next five years.
The leaders – who met on Monday morning in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as officials in their respective governments – signed a memorandum of understanding which reiterated their commitment to independence.
The joint agreement signed by the three parties said: “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.”
The leaders of the devolved nations in Cardiff (Ben Birchall/PA)PA Wire
The leaders added: “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.”
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Later on Monday, Mr Swinney joined the Welsh First Minister to sign a second agreement at the Welsh Government HQ in Cathays Park.
The two leaders pledged to make the case for “greater fairness” and power over the “constitutional futures” of their countries together.
Asked by reporters whether the summit was an “appropriate use” of their offices, the First Minister of Scotland told reporters that he was “simply advancing the mandate that was given to me by the public”.
Mr ap Iorwerth added: “Everything that my government does is about seeking better outcomes for the people of Wales.”
Following the press conference on Monday morning, Downing Street said 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”.
Mr Burnham’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.”
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