On Monday, party leaders John Swinney of the SNP, Rhun ap Iorwerth of Plaid Cymru, and Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin will meet in Cardiff to sign a memorandum advocating for referendums on independence in their respective nations. The meeting comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s statement that another referendum could be held with a clear consensus from Scotland was later clarified as being “off limits” by the UK government. The leaders aim to discuss working together on issues such as fair funding and constitutional questions while acknowledging their differences.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Monday in Cardiff, leaders from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland are set to sign a memorandum aimed at pushing for independence referendums. The meeting includes SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill. These leaders will gather in their capacities as party representatives, not government officials, to draft a plan against the backdrop of UK governments' long-standing opposition to such referendums since Scotland's 2014 vote. Prime Minister Andy Burnham had earlier suggested flexibility if there was consensus for another Scottish referendum but later reaffirmed that it remains "off limits." The leaders will discuss collaborative efforts to improve their citizens' lives while also working toward the goal of independence referendums in each of their nations.
Written for “Scots Independence Declaration” on 2026-09-14,
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Leaning score -0.65 for article 8622 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-13
The First Ministers of the UK’s devolved nations will sign a landmark agreement on Monday aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold referendums on independence.
asserted
Ministers → sign → independence
SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill will meet in Cardiff on Monday, where they are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding pushing for referendums in their respective countries, the Press Association understands.
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Association → meet → countries
The trio will meet in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as officials in their respective governments.
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trio → meet → governments
Successive UK governments have been consistently against the holding of referendums on separation since the 2014 vote in Scotland and hopes earlier this week of a softening position were dashed by Downing Street.
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hopes → soften → Street
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the Commons another vote in Scotland could be held if there was a “clear consensus” north of the border for it, but a letter sent to Mr Swinney later clarified a referendum remained “off limits”.
uncertain
referendum → tell → limits
A Sinn Féin source told the Press Association the Cardiff summit will be about “where the parties can work together to make a difference to people’s lives; and how each of our nations has the right to shape its own future through democratic means, guided by the will of its people”.
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each → tell → people
The source added: “In Ireland, the constitutional future belongs to the people of this island.
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future → add → island
“The Good Friday Agreement gives us the democratic means to decide it, and now is the time to prepare seriously for that choice.
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time → give → choice
“The work of building the new Ireland must begin now.”
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work → build → Ireland
The meeting is due to take place in Cardiff on Monday.
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meeting → take → Monday
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Welsh First Minister Mr ap Iorweth said: “We’re talking about how we can work together, let’s talk about what we have in common and what we don’t.”
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we → speak → what
He added: “There’s also something that ties us together, isn’t there?
“That pursuit of a different attitude from UK Government.
“
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that → add → Government
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.”
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we → make → that
He continued: “We can work together as First Ministers across these islands, I think, in a positive way for the people we represent, whilst also absolutely reflecting on the fact that we have differences between us.”
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we → continue → us
The meeting also comes after Scotland’s Education Secretary said another referendum was “not off the table”.
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referendum → come → table
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Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Show, Scottish Education Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “An independence referendum is not off the table.
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referendum → read → table
“We devote time to it because it is the transformational change that allows Scotland to stand on its own two feet in the world and to fulsomely pursue the better that we want.”
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we → devote → that
“The only people who, until last week anyway, didn’t appear to understand that were the UK Government.
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who → appear → that
“But the Prime Minister stood at the despatch box in the House of Commons last week and was clear that Scotland must have a route to choose our own future, so we just want that agreed now in a legal format so that we can take forward our mandate in Scotland.”
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we → stand → Scotland
