Leaders of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have issued a joint declaration calling for constitutional change that could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom, a move that comes days after former U.S. President Donald Trump voiced his support for Irish reunification.
The leaders, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, met in Cardiff and released a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signaling a challenge to the UK's constitutional settlement. They stated that "Westminster’s time is coming to an end" and that no British government has the right to block democratic decisions made by their respective nations.
"Each of our nations has the right to determine its own future, through democratic means and in accordance with the wishes of its people," the joint declaration read. The leaders emphasized that the current setup with First Ministers from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all committed to independence signifies a pivotal moment for constitutional change.
This development follows comments made by Donald Trump during a visit to Dublin. On Saturday, Trump stated, "It’s going to happen eventually. It might as well happen now." He reiterated his support for a united Ireland on Sunday, saying it made logical sense to combine the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
"It just seems to me that you have Northern Ireland and you have Ireland, and it would seem to me that one of the naturals of all time is put them together," Trump said. When asked about Scotland, he indicated he would "save that for another day."
The memorandum signed by the nationalist leaders commits them to cooperation on various fronts, including economic policy and renewable energy, and calls for greater self-determination. They also stated that their common cause is the understanding that "Westminster does not and will never serve our people well."
Responding to the developments, a spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated, "The Prime Minister is committed to delivering change across all four nations of the United Kingdom and believes strongly in the Union." The spokesperson added that the Prime Minister will continue to focus on easing financial pressures and delivering economic security, rather than engaging in constitutional debates or further referendums.
Sinn Féin, the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, warned that Burnham would not be able to "hold back the tide" of nationalism. O’Neill remarked during a news conference that the changes underway are "unstoppable."