The political scenario in the United Kingdom has been thrown into turmoil since the weekend. On Saturday (12), President Donald Trump stated in Dublin, during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, that a united Ireland would be “fantastic.” On Monday (14), the leaders of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales signed a memorandum of understanding urging the UK government to prepare for a constitutional change, in defense of the right to self-determination that could culminate in independence referendums.
The joint statement was signed by Rhun ap Iorwerth, Prime Minister of Wales and leader of Plaid Cymru; John Swinney, Prime Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP); and Michelle O’Neill, First Minister of Northern Ireland and vice president of Sinn Féin.
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For nationalist politicians, whose parties strengthened in the May elections, the political landscape “is changing” and their nations “have the right to determine their own future, through democratic means and in accordance with the wishes of their people.”
The movement gained strength with the election because, for the first time since the start of devolution in 1997, all three “Celtic nations” have First Ministers who favor leaving the United Kingdom.
The joint agreement says that “the time of Westminster [the British parliamentary system] is coming to an end.” And after signing the memorandum of understanding in Cardiff, Swinney declared that Andy Burnham will be the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
“The people of Scotland, if given the choice of independence in a referendum, will accept that choice, because all the information we see before us about polling trends indicates that this is the preference of the Scottish people,” he said.
O’Neill then said that Donald Trump’s remarks in support of Irish unity show that the debate is “very much alive.” “I think this shows where we stand, what perspective the thinking is about what the grand prize here is for our people, and the grand prize here is unification. (…) It is a fresh start in a new Ireland,” she said.
The group, which met as party leaders – and not as authorities in their respective governments, declared that there is a better path than the current one, with their nations working together as equals, sharing ideas and expertise, and building relationships based on mutual respect and common interests.
After the meeting, Downing Street [the UK government’s headquarters] said that Prime Minister Andy Burnham strongly believes in the United Kingdom and is focused on easing the cost-of-living crisis for families across the country, rather than on “constitutional debates.”
Also according to an official spokesman for the prime minister, Burnham “is committed to promoting changes in all four nations of the United Kingdom and strongly believes in the Union.”
“The United Kingdom is at its best when people come together around our shared values and the solving of problems, rather than division, and the Prime Minister will continue to ease pressure on household finances and provide greater economic security, instead of engaging in constitutional debates or new referendums.”
The last time a referendum on independence took place was in September 2014, in Scotland. On that occasion, the case for separation was defeated (45% voted yes and 55% voted no).
