“The Times of Westminster Are Coming to an End”: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Sign Memorandum on the Right to Self-Determination

In Cardiff, for the first time in the history of the United Kingdom, three jurisdictions simultaneously led by nationalist parties — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — appeared at a joint press conference. First Ministers John Swinney (Scottish National Party, SNP), Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) and Michelle O’Neil (Sinn Féin) signed a “memorandum of understanding” and publicly declared the right of their nations to determine their own future. The meeting, according to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who joined the event, was described as a “historic moment” and a “decisive point in the constitutional development of the United Kingdom.”

A Historic Configuration of Power

It is emphasised that this is the first time all three parts of the United Kingdom are led by representatives of nationalist parties. The politicians stated that “the times of Westminster are coming to an end” and that the political landscape on the British Isles is changing. Swinney called the meeting a “decisive point in the constitutional development of the United Kingdom,” and the participants as a whole noted that their political movements are gathering momentum and that constitutional change is drawing ever closer. The leaders called for recognition of the right of their nations to self-determination and demanded that the UK government prepare for possible constitutional changes in each jurisdiction and facilitate their implementation.

Different Goals, a Common Platform

Importantly, the three political forces have substantially different ultimate goals. The Scottish National Party advocates full independence for Scotland, Plaid Cymru strives for Welsh independence, and Sinn Féin supports the reunification of Northern Ireland with the rest of Ireland. Despite these differences, the leaders expressed a shared determination to ensure that the voices of their nations are heard, and stressed that each nation will determine its own future path independently and in its own time. Thus, there is no single constitutional programme — there is coordination of action around the common principle of self-determination.

The Memorandum and the European Union Card

The signed “memorandum of understanding” provides for cooperation in building a stronger and fairer economy, developing their own energy resources, and jointly promoting the interests of the nations. A separate clause in the document states that the future of these nations “lies in the European Union.” Mary Lou McDonald, commenting on the signing, said: “This is the moment when we collectively defend our inalienable right to decide our future.” The wording on the EU is a political declaration of a desired status, rather than a legally formalised decision to leave the United Kingdom or to join the Union.

Context: Public Opinion and Polls

The leaders’ statements coincided with a broader shift in the mood of British society. According to a poll conducted in April 2026, 53% of Britons support the country’s return to the European Union; among Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green voters, support exceeded 80%. This backdrop amplifies the resonance of the Cardiff meeting and underlines that the constitutional question has ceased to be exclusively “peripheral” for Westminster. At the same time, experts and the participants themselves stress that the memorandum does not override the existing constitutional order, but records intentions and creates a framework for future negotiations on the status of the nations.