Leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to meet in Cardiff on September 14 for a summit focused on self-determination. Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill are expected to sign a memorandum affirming their nations’ right to pursue independence.
The three leaders are attending as representatives of their parties, rather than in a governmental capacity. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald is also expected to attend. The memorandum is intended to press the UK government to establish a route towards independence referendums.
The summit follows May’s elections, which brought pro-independence parties to power in all three devolved administrations for the first time. The SNP leads in Scotland, Plaid Cymru leads in Wales and Sinn Féin leads the Northern Ireland executive.
Constitutional issues are expected to be discussed alongside practical cooperation on funding, energy and relations with Europe. Ap Iorwerth has said the nations can work together on shared concerns while maintaining different positions on their constitutional futures.
The meeting follows comments from Prime Minister Andy Burnham that a Scottish independence referendum could be considered if there were a clear public consensus. He compared the threshold with the conditions for a Northern Ireland border poll. Downing Street later clarified that the government’s position had not changed and that another Scottish independence referendum remained off limits.
The Cardiff meeting is expected to add pressure on Westminster over devolution and the UK’s constitutional future.
