Scotland, Wales, NI target independence

In a rare show of unity, the first ministers of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland signed a joint pledge on Monday asserting their nations' right to decide their constitutional futures.

In a memorandum of understanding, the leaders of the Scottish National Party, or SNP, Plaid Cymru in Wales, and the pro-Irish unity Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland declared: "Our nations have the right to self-determination. No Westminster government has the right to block democracy or undermine the principle that our people will decide their own future."

For the first time in the devolution era, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are all led by first ministers who support leaving the United Kingdom.

The agreement follows intensifying debate over referendums, with the first ministers urging the UK government to endorse ballots in their respective nations.

The three nationalist leaders — John Swinney of the SNP, Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill — gathered in Cardiff, Wales, to sign the pact that demands the right to hold referendums on leaving the UK.

The three were meeting in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as officials in their respective governments, and were joined by Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald, who is leader of the opposition in Ireland's parliament.

The group also outlined plans to collaborate on the economy, energy, and international cooperation.

The agreement said: "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."

There was speculation last week UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham could authorize another Scottish independence vote after he told lawmakers in the UK parliament that a poll would be considered if there was a "clear consensus".

After Scotland's first minister, Swinney, wrote to the UK prime minister asking for clarification on how the right to a referendum could be enshrined in law, Burnham replied that no such consensus currently existed and repeated his view that another referendum was "off limits".

Successive UK governments have opposed new separation referendums since 2014, but ahead of the Cardiff meeting Swinney claimed that Burnham was "facing up to the idea that he will go down in history as the final prime minister of the United Kingdom".

The prospect of a poll in Ireland drew fresh attention after United States President Donald Trump voiced support for Irish unity during his visit to the country on the weekend.