{"id":37699,"date":"2026-09-14T08:40:49","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T05:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=37699"},"modified":"2026-09-21T07:56:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T04:56:58","slug":"scotland-wales-and-northern-ireland-leaders-seek-greater-autonomy-amid-uk-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/scotland-wales-and-northern-ireland-leaders-seek-greater-autonomy-amid-uk-tensions\/","title":{"rendered":"Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland leaders seek greater autonomy amid UK tensions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>7 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland met in Cardiff on September 14, 2026, alongside Sinn F\u00e9in President Mary Lou McDonald, to strengthen cooperation and discuss their nations\u2019 constitutional futures.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A memorandum signed at the meeting declares that \u201cWestminster\u2019s time is coming to an end,\u201d putting fresh pressure on Downing Street over calls for independence referendums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader and Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Sinn F\u00e9in Vice President and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The memorandum calls on the UK Government to \u201cprepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change\u201d 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 \u201cconstitutional change is coming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Seeking Greater Cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWestminster\u2019s time is coming to an end\u201d: SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn F\u00e9in leaders sign pact on constitutional change.<br><br>The memorandum calls on the UK Government to \u201cprepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change\u201d in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GiDeefKuib\">pic.twitter.com\/GiDeefKuib<\/a><\/p>&mdash; IRIA (@IRIA_Research) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IRIA_Research\/status\/2099457739940327696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 14, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>The summit follows Plaid Cymru\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are at a pivotal moment of constitutional change,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The leaders also discussed energy, economic policy, relations with Europe and international cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Burnham Faces Pressure Over Referendums<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Burnham has said a new Scottish independence referendum could take place if there were a \u201cclear consensus\u201d in Scotland in favor of holding one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/UK-Andy-Burnham.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/UK-Andy-Burnham.jpg?resize=1016%2C572&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"UK Andy Burnham\" class=\"wp-image-36420\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/UK-Andy-Burnham.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/UK-Andy-Burnham.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/UK-Andy-Burnham.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/UK-Andy-Burnham.jpg?w=1400&amp;ssl=1 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>Andy Burnham being sworn in as the MP for Makerfield. (Image Credit: Reuters)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scottish First Minister Swinney claimed that Burnham was \u201cfacing up to the idea that he will go down in history as the final prime minister of the United Kingdom\u201d. He said: &#8220;For the first time ever, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are led by pro-independence first ministers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He added: &#8220;Tomorrow in Cardiff, I am looking forward to discussing a better future with partners from across these islands \u2013 and that only comes with the fresh start of independence.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Trump Backs a United Ireland<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cardiff summit also comes after Trump made unusually direct comments in support of Irish reunification during his visit to Dublin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking alongside Irish Prime Minister Miche\u00e1l Martin on Saturday, Trump said he would \u201clove\u201d to see Ireland unified and suggested that reunification would eventually happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think it would be a great feather in everybody\u2019s cap if that happened,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThe way I look at it, it\u2019s going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump described a united Ireland as a \u201cfantastic thing\u201d and acknowledged that the UK would have a role in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His comments prompted criticism from unionist politicians in Northern Ireland, who argued that the territory\u2019s constitutional future should be decided by its own people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s latest comments are not the first time he has raised the possibility of Irish reunification. In March, during a St. Patrick\u2019s Day event in Washington, Trump appeared to joke about the possibility of an Irish \u201cmerger\u201d while welcoming Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/US-Ireland-leaders.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/US-Ireland-leaders.jpg?resize=1000%2C666&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"U.S. President Donald Trump with the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, and Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin in Dublin, Ireland\" class=\"wp-image-37701\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/US-Ireland-leaders.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/US-Ireland-leaders.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/US-Ireland-leaders.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/US-Ireland-leaders.jpg?resize=589%2C392&amp;ssl=1 589w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>U.S. President Donald Trump with the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, and Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin in Dublin, Ireland. (Image Credit: The White House\/via X)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know if I should be promoting a merger. I love mergers,\u201d Trump said before suggesting that the remark could cause political trouble. Little-Pengelly later described the comment as \u201cjust a bit of banter,\u201d while other politicians used the remarks to highlight the sensitivity of the constitutional issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Irish Unity Debate Gains Momentum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s intervention has added an international dimension to an already sensitive debate over Northern Ireland\u2019s future. Sinn Fein has welcomed his comments, while unionist politicians have rejected the idea that outside leaders should influence Northern Ireland\u2019s constitutional status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Northern Ireland\u2019s future would be decided by its people rather than by political commentary from London, Dublin or Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Irish Prime Minister Miche\u00e1l Martin has sought to keep the issue within the framework of the Good Friday Agreement and has played down the immediate prospects of reunification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agreement, signed in 1998, ended decades of conflict in Northern Ireland and established the principle that the territory\u2019s constitutional status can change if its people democratically choose to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Wider Challenge to the UK Union<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cardiff summit brought the questions of Scottish independence, Welsh self-government and Irish reunification into a single political discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201cin its own way and in its own time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first time, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have first ministers from parties committed to greater autonomy from the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/UK-Scotland-Wales-Northern-Ireland.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"869\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/UK-Scotland-Wales-Northern-Ireland.jpg?resize=1016%2C869&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"United Kingdom, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland flags\" class=\"wp-image-37703\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/UK-Scotland-Wales-Northern-Ireland.jpg?resize=1024%2C876&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/UK-Scotland-Wales-Northern-Ireland.jpg?resize=300%2C257&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/UK-Scotland-Wales-Northern-Ireland.jpg?resize=768%2C657&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/UK-Scotland-Wales-Northern-Ireland.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>United Kingdom, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland flags. (Image Credit: X\/@PicturesFoIder)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The combination of the Cardiff summit, renewed Scottish independence debate and Trump\u2019s support for Irish reunification is likely to increase pressure on Burnham\u2019s government over its approach to devolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland met in Cardiff on September 14, 2026, alongside Sinn F\u00e9in President Mary Lou McDonald, to strengthen cooperation and discuss their nations\u2019 constitutional futures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37706,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[62,1],"tags":[211,152,24,357,1052,71,192,7,61,365,1051],"class_list":["post-37699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-news","tag-britain","tag-energy","tag-eu","tag-europe","tag-northern-ireland","tag-politics","tag-scotland","tag-u-s","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-wales"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-9O3","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Scotland-Wales-Northern-Ireland-leaders.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37699"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37718,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37699\/revisions\/37718"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}