Fears over the future of the United Kingdom are growing as the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland prepare to join forces in a fresh push for greater self-determination and the right to hold independence referendums.
Earlier reporting noted: Leader of the Scottish National Party John Swinney, Leader of Plaid Cymru Rhun ap Iorwerth, Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Fein Vice-President Michelle O’Neill issued a statement Sunday to say they are meeting in Cardiff to “strengthen the cooperation of Wales, Scotland and Ireland” and build towards constitutional change. Earlier reporting noted: When Trump said a “unified Ireland is going to happen eventually,” he might have known something UK PM Andy Burnham didn’t. Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party in the Welsh Senedd after May’s election, allowing Rhun ap Iorwerth to become first minister. In Scotland, the SNP remains the dominant political force, while Sinn Fein continues to hold a strong position in Northern Ireland. The UK government’s position, however, remains that there is currently no clear public consensus in Northern Ireland for such a referendum. At Prime Minister’s Questions last week Burnham made the strange comment that both in Scotland and Northern Ireland a border poll would be considered if there was a clear consensus that public opinion had changed – even though this is only the case for Northern Ireland. Scotland has no equivalent statutory trigger.
Earlier reporting noted: A day after President Trump expressed his support for Northern Ireland breaking from the UK to unify with the Republic of Ireland, the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are gathering at a summit in Cardiff to sign a deal designed to kick-start the break-up of the United Kingdom.
The leaders are due to meet in Cardiff on Monday and are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding focused on constitutional change and closer cooperation. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald is also expected to attend the summit, reported the Telegraph.
he later said in a letter to Swinney that such a vote remained “off limits” While he told MPs that another Scottish referendum could be considered if there were a “clear consensus” for one. The issue gained further international attention after US President Donald Trump, during his visit to Dublin, said he would “love” to see a united Ireland and described reunification as something that could eventually happen. The meeting brings together Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, all of whom are associated with parties seeking major constitutional change. However, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has sought to cool expectations.
