A united front to break up Britain: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland move toward secession

The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are set to meet in Cardiff on Monday to sign a cooperation agreement demanding the right to hold referendums on their constitutional futures, amid growing debate over the future of the United Kingdom.

According to reports by Greek City Times and Firstpost, citing The Telegraph, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill are expected to sign a joint declaration covering self-determination, the economy, energy and Europe.

The meeting would mark the first time the three devolved nations are simultaneously led by parties supporting constitutional change or separation from the UK.

The agreement is expected to increase pressure on Westminster to recognise what the parties describe as the right of the devolved nations to determine their own constitutional arrangements.

Scotland and Wales would reportedly seek independent membership of the European Union if they left the UK, while Northern Ireland could return to the EU through reunification with the Republic of Ireland.

Swinney has described the UK’s existing political arrangement as “not sustainable” and argued that Westminster should prepare for what he called a “post-UK future.”

The planned summit comes amid controversy over Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s comments suggesting he could support another Scottish independence referendum if public opinion clearly favoured holding one.

Burnham subsequently wrote to Swinney saying another referendum remained off the table and pointing to Labour’s manifesto commitments.

Swinney, however, has seized on the prime minister’s earlier remarks, suggesting the momentum for constitutional change was growing and saying Burnham could become “the final prime minister of the United Kingdom.”

A source close to the Scottish leader also accused Burnham of mishandling the issue and said supporters of the Union should be concerned about the debate surrounding another referendum.

The reports also place the Cardiff meeting against the backdrop of renewed discussion about Irish reunification following recent comments by US President Donald Trump expressing support for a united Ireland.

The declaration does not itself authorise independence or reunification referendums. Instead, it is intended to strengthen political cooperation among the three devolved governments and press Westminster over their ability to hold such votes.

Any eventual break-up of the UK would therefore require further political and constitutional processes, leaving the Cardiff agreement as a coordinated statement of intent rather than an immediate mechanism for separation.