In a historic move, the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed a joint agreement on Monday declaring that "Westminster's time is coming to an end." The agreement marks the first time since devolution began that all three devolved nations are simultaneously led by politicians who support leaving the United Kingdom.
Joint Agreement Signed by Three First Ministers
John Swinney of the Scottish National Party, Rhun ap Iorwerth of Plaid Cymru, and Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin gathered as representatives of their respective parties, with Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald also present. The meeting was the first of its kind since devolution came into force.
According to BBC, the memorandum of understanding signed by the three leaders states: "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 document also asserted that no Westminster government holds the right to "block democracy."
Referendum Calls Divide the Leaders
Despite the united front, the three leaders were not entirely aligned on next steps. Swinney and O'Neill used a joint press conference to call openly for independence referendums in their respective nations. Ap Iorwerth, however, declined to give any timetable for a referendum in Wales, drawing a visible line between his position and those of his counterparts.
In a separate development, the governments of Scotland and Wales backed a second agreement, committing to work together to push the UK government on what they described as "fairness" in funding and the devolution of further powers.
UK Parties Push Back Against Breakup Accusations
The declarations drew swift criticism from Westminster. Both Labour and Reform targeted Plaid Cymru directly, accusing the party of pursuing the breakup of the United Kingdom. The gathering represents the first time all three devolved administrations have been led simultaneously by pro-independence parties since devolution came into force, a development that the signatories described as a landmark signal to audiences both within the British Isles and internationally.
