IRIA News

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The first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are meeting in Cardiff on September 14, 2026, to strengthen cooperation and affirm their countries’ right to pursue constitutional change, including independence from the United Kingdom.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney, Wales’ First Minister Rhun ap Iowerth and Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding calling for greater cooperation on economic, energy, European and constitutional issues.

Mary Lou McDonald, President of the Irish Sinn Féin Party, is also expected to attend the summit. The meeting comes as renewed debate over Scottish independence and Irish reunification coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump openly backing the idea of a united Ireland.

Seeking Greater Cooperation

The memorandum is expected to state that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the right to determine their own constitutional futures through democratic means. The three leaders are also expected to call for Westminster to prepare for and facilitate constitutional change in the three nations.

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.

On my way to Cardiff for a historic meeting of Sinn Féin, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

For the first time ever, there are three nationalist and pro-independence First Ministers, here in the North, in Scotland and in Wales.

This is a time of enormous change and opportunity. pic.twitter.com/Sh8c27vpZs

— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) September 13, 2026

“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 are also expected to discuss 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.

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 brings the questions of Scottish independence, Welsh self-government and Irish reunification into a single political discussion.

For the first time, the governments of all three devolved nations are led by parties supporting some form of greater national autonomy or independence.

The leaders are expected to emphasize cooperation rather than present a single timetable for breaking up the UK. Their proposed agreement is instead likely to focus on the principle that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should be able to determine their constitutional futures through democratic processes.

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.