From left: First Minister of Scotland John R. Swinney, First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill, during a meeting at Voco St David's Cardiff. Photo: Ben Birchall/PA

The Celtic Alliance sign the memorandum of understanding. Photo: Ben Birchall

The first round of formal constitutional negotiations with the Government of the United Kingdom was held from July 14–15, 2026, in the Virgin Islands, and discussions continued in the United Kingdom on September 10 and 11, 2026, when Premier of the Virgin Islands Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) engaged in Bilateral Meetings with the Minister responsible for Overseas Territories. Photo: GIS/File

Scottish First Minister John R. Swinney, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill held a landmark press conference in Cardiff on Monday morning, September 14, 2026, to sign a memorandum of understanding as they declared “Westminster’s time is coming to an end”.

Along with Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, who is the leader of the opposition in the Irish Dáil, the leaders called on the UK Government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change”.

According to the Scottish pro-independence newspaper, The National, the agreement sets out plans to “reject Whitehall’s broken economic model” and share ideas on economic growth, expand energy resources, and states that “the future of our nations belongs in the European Union”.

There should be ‘no obstacle’ to self-determination

Swinney said there should be “no obstacle” to those in the three devolved nations being “able to determine their own future”.

The first ministers, who met in their party capacities, said: "no Westminster government has the right to block democracy or undermine the principle that our people will decide their own future".

The agreement says: “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.”

Swinney claimed that Andy M. Burnham would be the "last prime minister of the United Kingdom" as he brought up Burnham's comments in the House of Commons last week multiple times during the press conference.

VI in a similar struggle for more autonomy

The stance between the political parties of Scotland, Ireland and Wales comes as the Virgin Islands is seeking to gain more autonomy from the United Kingdom through constitutional negotiations.

The first round of formal constitutional negotiations with the Government of the United Kingdom was held from July 14–15, 2026, in the Virgin Islands, and discussions continued in the United Kingdom on September 10 and 11, 2026, when Premier of the Virgin Islands Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) engaged in Bilateral Meetings with the Minister responsible for Overseas Territories.

Premier Wheatley is yet to report to the territory on that latest meeting, but he told a local news outlet prior to his departure to London that he expected a positive outcome as he pushes to secure greater autonomy for the Virgin Islands through the transfer of certain powers from the United Kingdom-appointed governor to the elected government.