Irish, Scottish, Welsh Leaders to Sign Self-Determination Pact in Cardiff
The leaders also pledged cooperation on the economy, energy and Europe as support for independence grows after recent elections, the agreement said.
- On Monday, September 14, 2026, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill met in Cardiff and signed a memorandum of understanding calling on Westminster to prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change.
- Following May 2026 elections, nationalist-led administrations now govern Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the first time, marking an unprecedented political shift that prompted this summit among the three leaders.
- The memorandum covers economy, energy, international cooperation, and self-determination, with the leaders committing to "strengthening cooperation between our parties and identifying practical areas where working together can make a real difference."
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham reiterated that independence referendums remain "off limits," while Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly accused O'Neill of attempting to "weaponise the role of First Minister" without executive authorization.
- While the leaders share ambitions for EU membership, they face diverging legal paths; Northern Ireland holds a statutory border poll mechanism under the Good Friday Agreement, whereas Scotland and Wales lack equivalent unilateral referenda pathways.
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428 Articles
Just one day after Donald Trump's remarks about a united Ireland, a Celtic summit took place in Cardiff, at which Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland demand the green light for independence votes from the British government.
Project Independence: Nationalist leaders of three of the four United Kingdom states have joined forces to detach themselves from London and become part of the European Union.
The leaders of the main parties in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales unanimously reaffirmed their nations' right to self-determination on Monday, signing a joint document at a rare meeting in the Welsh capital Cardiff.
They also call for independence referendums.
Leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland initialled a historic agreement in Cardiff to counter centralism in London.
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