IRIA News

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The first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland met in Cardiff on September 14, 2026, alongside Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald, to strengthen cooperation and discuss their nations’ constitutional futures.

A memorandum signed at the meeting declares that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end,” putting fresh pressure on Downing Street over calls for independence referendums.

SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader and Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Sinn Féin Vice President and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill signed a memorandum of understanding in their capacity as party leaders, reaffirming their support for independence and calling for greater cooperation on economic, energy, European and constitutional issues.

The memorandum calls on the UK Government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change” in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It also states that each nation has the right to determine its own future through democratic means and that “constitutional change is coming.”

Seeking Greater Cooperation

The memorandum states that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the right to determine their own constitutional futures through democratic means. The three parties also call on Westminster to prepare for and facilitate constitutional change in the three jurisdictions.

“Westminster’s time is coming to an end”: SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin leaders sign pact on constitutional change.

The memorandum calls on the UK Government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change” in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. pic.twitter.com/GiDeefKuib

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) September 14, 2026

The summit follows Plaid Cymru’s strong performance in the May elections, which helped create an unprecedented political situation in which pro-independence parties lead governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Swinney described the development as significant, saying that for the first time Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are led by first ministers from parties supporting greater constitutional independence.

“We are at a pivotal moment of constitutional change,” Swinney said before the meeting. He argued that the people of the three nations should have a meaningful say over their political future and said the Cardiff discussions would focus on cooperation as well as the different approaches taken by the three countries toward independence.

The leaders also discussed energy, economic policy, relations with Europe and international cooperation.

Burnham Faces Pressure Over Referendums

The summit presents a challenge for UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whose government has promoted greater devolution of power and resources while maintaining opposition to immediate independence referendums.

Burnham has said a new Scottish independence referendum could take place if there were a “clear consensus” in Scotland in favor of holding one.

However, he later wrote to Swinney to reiterate that the government would not support another Scottish independence referendum before the next general election. Burnham has also said there is currently no clear evidence of majority support in Northern Ireland for leaving the UK.

The issue has become more complicated following the political changes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and growing calls for Westminster to recognize their right to determine their constitutional futures.

Recent polling cited by Welsh media showed support for independence at around 47% in Scotland, 36% in Northern Ireland and 32% in Wales if referendums were held immediately.

Scottish First Minister Swinney claimed that Burnham was “facing up to the idea that he will go down in history as the final prime minister of the United Kingdom”. He said: “For the first time ever, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are led by pro-independence first ministers.

He added: “Tomorrow in Cardiff, I am looking forward to discussing a better future with partners from across these islands – and that only comes with the fresh start of independence.”

Trump Backs a United Ireland

The Cardiff summit also comes after Trump made unusually direct comments in support of Irish reunification during his visit to Dublin.

Speaking alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin on Saturday, Trump said he would “love” to see Ireland unified and suggested that reunification would eventually happen.

“I think it would be a great feather in everybody’s cap if that happened,” Trump said. “The way I look at it, it’s going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now.”

Trump described a united Ireland as a “fantastic thing” and acknowledged that the UK would have a role in the process.

His comments prompted criticism from unionist politicians in Northern Ireland, who argued that the territory’s constitutional future should be decided by its own people.

The remarks also marked a departure from the traditionally cautious position taken by successive U.S. administrations on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. Under the Good Friday Agreement, a referendum on Irish reunification can be held if it appears likely that a majority in Northern Ireland would support leaving the UK and joining a united Ireland.

Trump’s latest comments are not the first time he has raised the possibility of Irish reunification. In March, during a St. Patrick’s Day event in Washington, Trump appeared to joke about the possibility of an Irish “merger” while welcoming Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

“I don’t know if I should be promoting a merger. I love mergers,” Trump said before suggesting that the remark could cause political trouble. Little-Pengelly later described the comment as “just a bit of banter,” while other politicians used the remarks to highlight the sensitivity of the constitutional issue.

Trump’s comments in Dublin, however, were considerably more direct. Rather than referring to a possible merger jokingly, he said he would like to see Ireland unified and argued that reunification was likely to happen eventually.

Irish Unity Debate Gains Momentum

Trump’s intervention has added an international dimension to an already sensitive debate over Northern Ireland’s future. Sinn Fein has welcomed his comments, while unionist politicians have rejected the idea that outside leaders should influence Northern Ireland’s constitutional status.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Northern Ireland’s future would be decided by its people rather than by political commentary from London, Dublin or Washington.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin has sought to keep the issue within the framework of the Good Friday Agreement and has played down the immediate prospects of reunification.

The agreement, signed in 1998, ended decades of conflict in Northern Ireland and established the principle that the territory’s constitutional status can change if its people democratically choose to do so.

Wider Challenge to the UK Union

The Cardiff summit brought the questions of Scottish independence, Welsh self-government and Irish reunification into a single political discussion.

The leaders signed a memorandum calling for closer cooperation between their parties and reaffirming the right of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to determine their constitutional futures through democratic means. The document does not establish a common timetable for independence; it states that each nation will determine its future “in its own way and in its own time.”

For the first time, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have first ministers from parties committed to greater autonomy from the UK.

The combination of the Cardiff summit, renewed Scottish independence debate and Trump’s support for Irish reunification is likely to increase pressure on Burnham’s government over its approach to devolution.

While there is no immediate mechanism for the UK to be dissolved, the political landscape has changed significantly, with questions over the future of the union now being raised simultaneously across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.