Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland unite over independence push

Leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are joining forces to push for greater self-determination and the right to hold independence referendums, putting fresh pressure on the United Kingdom’s constitutional future.

The three first ministers are set to meet in Cardiff for a special meeting, where they are expected to sign a joint declaration calling for the right to hold independence referendums, according to The Telegraph.

The meeting will also be attended by Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Ireland’s main opposition party Sinn Fein.

The leaders are expected to call for greater self-determination for their respective nations and develop a joint approach to the constitutional future of the UK.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said it was the first time that pro-independence first ministers were in government in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

He described the development as a clear sign that the current constitutional arrangement was not sustainable.

Swinney also warned British Prime Minister Andy Burnham that he could face the possibility of being remembered by history as the last prime minister of the United Kingdom.

The move comes after Burnham told Parliament that another Scottish independence referendum could be allowed if there was clear public support for it in Scotland.

The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will gather on Monday to sign a deal designed to kick-start the break-up of the United Kingdom, The Telegraph can disclose.

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— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 13, 2026

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed support for a united Ireland, saying he would like to see Ireland united and that Northern Ireland becoming part of the Republic of Ireland would be a good thing. “Well, I don’t want to cause any problems, but I will tell you, I’d love to see it unified,” Trump told reporters sitting next to Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin after the pair met in Dublin. “It’s going to happen eventually … I think it would be a fantastic thing.”

According to British media, pro-independence parties are in power in the three nations for the first time following elections in May, intensifying debate over the future of the UK.

Under the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland can hold a referendum on joining the Republic of Ireland if there is evidence that a majority of people in Northern Ireland are likely to support leaving the UK.