The leaders of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are set to hold an unprecedented meeting on Monday, aiming to push for the breakup of the United Kingdom.
John Swinney, leader of the Scottish National Party and the first minister of Scotland; Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of the Welsh independence party Plaid Cymru and first minister of Wales; and Michelle O’Neill, leader of Sinn Féin and first minister of Northern Ireland, are all slated to meet in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the Telegraph reported. At the meeting, the three are expected to sign a joint declaration demanding the right to hold independence referendums, a move intended to kickstart the ultimate dissolution of the U.K.
The move was made possible by the political earthquake brought about by the May elections, a bloodbath for Labour that saw independence parties seize majorities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales for the first time.
In one move meant to soften the threat of the meeting, Swinney, ap Iorwerth, and O’Neill are to stress that they’re meeting in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as government heads. The distinction will make the meeting slightly less alarming to London, though not by much.
Swinney was the most overt in expressing his desire to dissolve the U.K.
“For the first time ever, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are led by pro-independence first ministers. There could be no clearer sign that the status quo is not sustainable — and that Westminster must prepare for a post-UK future,” he said, according to the outlet.
“The momentum behind serious constitutional change is undeniable. Andy Burnham must now be facing up to the idea that he will go down in history as the final prime minister of the United Kingdom,” Swinney added. “Tomorrow in Cardiff, I am looking forward to discussing a better future with partners from across these islands — and that only comes with the fresh start of independence.”
Ap Iorwerth was less hardline, instead saying the three leaders would use the Cardiff meeting to talk “about how we can work together, let’s talk about what we have in common and what we don’t.”
“It could be around the constitutional question, it could, more acutely, be around fair funding, making sure resource is shared in a way that is equitable, that feels fair, that we have the powers to build the future for the people that we represent,” he added.
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British Prime Minister Andy Burnham unwittingly brought the prospect of independence to the forefront last week when he told members of Parliament he would approve of another Scottish independence referendum if there was a “clear consensus” for one, then quickly backtracked later in the week, telling Swinney on Thursday that it was “off limits.” The flip-flop angered the independence parties and provided impetus for the Cardiff meeting.
Burnham broadly remains popular, but he’s facing the same crippling issues that sank his hapless predecessor, former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.