THE SNP, Sinn Fein and Plaid Cymru have joined forces to sign an historic self-determination declaration to place pressure on Westminster.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Welsh first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Northern Ireland first minister Michelle O'Neill held a landmark press conference in Cardiff on Monday morning to sign a memorandum of understanding as they declared “Westminster’s time is coming to an end”.
Along with Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, who is the leader of the opposition in the Irish Dáil, the leaders called on the UK Government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change”.
The agreement sets out plans to “reject Whitehall’s broken economic model” and share ideas on economic growth, expand energy resources, and states that “the future of our nations belongs in the European Union”.
John Swinney said there should be “no obstacle” to those in the three devolved nations being “able to determine their own future”.
The first ministers, who met in their party capacities, said "no Westminster government has the right to block democracy or undermine the principle that our people will decide their own future".
The agreement says: “The political landscape across these islands is changing.
“For the first time ever, people across these islands have first ministers in Scotland, in Wales and in the North of Ireland who are all committed to independence from the United Kingdom.
“For people watching across these islands – for people watching around the world – there could be no clearer sign that Westminster’s time is coming to an end.
“We believe there is a better way: nations working together as equals, sharing ideas and expertise, and building relationships based on mutual respect and common interests.
“Momentum is behind our movements; we believe that constitutional change is coming.
“We therefore commit to strengthening cooperation between our parties and identifying practical areas where working together can make a real difference.”
Swinney claimed that Andy Burnham would be the "last prime minister of the United Kingdom" as he brought up Burnham's comments in the House of Commons last week multiple times during the press conference.
Burnham suggested the terms that apply to Northern Ireland for triggering an Irish reunification referendum should be "exactly the same" for Scotland.
The Good Friday Agreement states that the UK Northern Ireland Secretary “shall” call a referendum on Irish reunification if it looks likely that the people would vote in support.
Swinney said recent polling showed a majority in favour of breaking away from the union while the recent Holyrood election returned a majority of pro-independence MSPs.
But he said the country had faced “obstruction” from the UK Government, which has repeatedly rejected SNP calls for another referendum.
“The people of Scotland are entitled to decide their own future,” he said during a press conference.
Swinney said a Scottish independence referendum must be held within the next five years with a vote taking place in the current parliamentary term.
“The people of Scotland, if given the choice of independence in a referendum, will take that choice, because all of the information that we see in front of us about the trends in opinion polling indicate that’s the preference of the people of Scotland," he said.
Ap Iorwerth said the people of Wales will set the timescale for any future independence referendum.
“My job is to persuade and it seems from the polls, from the direction of travel, that people more and more are absolutely getting persuaded," he said.
“It’s not up to me to dictate, is it? It’s for me to listen to the people of Wales and to show that leadership.”
Sinn Féin leader McDonald has said the signing of joint memorandum of understanding with the leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru was “historic”.
Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff, McDonald said: “I think it is not an exaggeration to say that this meeting today and the signing of this memorandum is historic.
“It is that moment where we assert collectively our inalienable right to decide our futures.”
O'Neill insisted there is "historic change" happening in the UK and urged people to engage in the "healthy debate" rather than "bury their heads in the sand".
"When you ask the question of who goes first or how does that have an impact, all of our people watch with interest all of these developments, but there is no doubt in my mind that the change that is happening is unstoppable," O'Neill said.
"There's no doubt in my mind that the British government cannot continue to hold back the tide."
Ap Iowerth said it was becoming clear we need a "major reset" across the UK.
"I think there is a growing recognition that the current status quo is not tenable," he said.
