SNP, Plaid and Sinn Féin leaders expected to sign joint agreement in Cardiff

Leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin are expected to meet in Cardiff to sign an agreement aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold referendums on independence.

The meeting on Monday will involve the first ministers of the UK’s three devolved nations, where they are set to sign a memorandum of understanding pushing for constitutional change in their respective countries.

SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill will meet in Cardiff.

Sinn Féin’s president Mary Lou McDonald, who is the leader of the opposition in the Irish Dáil, will also attend the meeting.

First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth will welcome the other leaders to Cardiff (Jonathan Brady/PA)

PA Wire

The group will meet in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as officials in their respective governments.

They are due to discuss partnership around the economy, energy and international co-operation.

They will also call on the UK Government to “prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change in Wales, Scotland and the north of Ireland”.

Mr Swinney said: “I welcome the opportunity to meet with colleagues in Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin in Cardiff.

“We are at a pivotal moment of constitutional change, and our parties share the common belief that our interests will never be served by Westminster, and that the people of our respective nations must have a meaningful say over their future.”

Mr ap Iorwerth said he was pleased to welcome the SNP and Sinn Féin leaders.

He said: “May’s election was a turning point for Wales. We now have a Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government with a clear mandate to do things differently.

“Across these islands, we are seeing a new political landscape emerge, with a growing recognition that the Westminster model is no longer working.

“Our parties have much to gain from working together, as partners and as equals, where we share common interests and where co-operation can improve the lives of the people we represent.”

Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill said ‘change is happening right across these islands’ (Liam McBurney/PA)

PA Wire

Ms O’Neill said: “Partition has failed the island of Ireland and the best interests of our people have never been served by those in Westminster.

“However, change is happening right across these islands and we must be ready for constitutional change when it comes.

“The election of three nationalist First Ministers for the first time on these islands is a clear indication that people see that Westminster is not working for the people of the North, Scotland or Wales.”

Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, of the DUP, has already said Ms O’Neill has “not sought any agreement or permission from me to travel, attend or sign anything as First Minister”.

John Swinney said he welcomed the opportunity to meet colleagues from the other parties (Jane Barlow/PA)

PA Wire

Successive UK governments have been consistently against the holding of referendums on separation since the 2014 vote in Scotland and hopes last week of a softening position were dashed by Downing Street.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the Commons another vote in Scotland could be held if there was a “clear consensus” north of the border for it, but a letter sent to Mr Swinney later clarified a referendum remained “off limits”.

The issue of a border poll in Ireland has been thrust into the spotlight after weekend comments from US President Donald Trump in support of Irish unity.

However, Ms Little-Pengelly, the joint head of the Stormont powersharing Executive, accused Ms O’Neill of attempting to “weaponise the role of First Minister”.

In a social media post she said: “Let me be absolutely clear. Michelle O’Neill is not travelling to this ‘summit’ as First Minister, she has no authority to present herself as representing the FM role at any such ‘summit’ and nor does she have any authority to sign anything as First Minister of Northern Ireland at any such ‘summit’.”