14 September 2026 an unprecedented meeting of the leaders of the three regions of the United Kingdom will take place in Cardiff. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney (SNP), Wales's First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) and Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin) will gather to sign a joint declaration. They will be joined by the leader of Sinn Féin and of the opposition in the Republic of Ireland, Mary Lou McDonald.
According to The Telegraph and other British publications, the document will demand that London recognise the right of these territories to hold referendums on independence and self-determination. The meeting is taking place in the format of party leaders, not official government representatives.
For the first time in history, all three regions are simultaneously led by politicians who support leaving the United Kingdom. John Swinney stressed: "For the first time, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are led by supporters of independence. There is no clearer signal that the status quo is unsustainable, and Westminster must prepare for a future without the United Kingdom."
What is on the agenda
The joint declaration will address four key areas:
- the economy,
- energy,
- European and international cooperation,
- the right to self-determination.
Scotland and Wales are considering the prospect of separate membership in the European Union. Northern Ireland — the path to reunification with the Republic of Ireland, which would automatically return it to the EU.
Context and London's reaction
The meeting is taking place against the backdrop of recent statements by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Last week he allowed for the possibility of a new Scottish referendum given a "clear consensus", but later officially confirmed that the topic remains "closed".
In the British government and among unionists, the meeting is already being called a "separatist summit". Critics claim it is aimed at increasing pressure on Westminster. Supporters of independence, by contrast, see in it a historic moment of coordination among national movements.
Polls show: support for independence in Scotland currently stands at about 47 %, in Northern Ireland — about 36 %, in Wales — about 32 %.
The meeting in Cardiff has no legal force and does not change constitutional procedures. However, it demonstrates the growing coordination among the three nationalist forces and poses to London the question of the future of the United Kingdom in a sharper form than ever before.
