Scotland, Wales and Ireland Leaders Unite to Sign Historic Independence Declaration

The leaders of three of the UK’s devolved nations are set to make a bold political statement this Monday, when they come together in Cardiff to sign a joint declaration backing independence for their respective nations.

SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney will travel to the Welsh capital alongside Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill, who serves as First Minister of Northern Ireland. The symbolic signing is being seen as a show of solidarity between the three pro-independence parties.

For Swinney, the visit to Cardiff represents an opportunity to reinforce the SNP’s core message that Scottish independence remains firmly on the agenda, despite the party facing a tough period domestically. The SNP has been under significant pressure following a difficult few years in government, and Swinney has been working hard to steady the ship since taking over the leadership.

The declaration is expected to underline shared values between the three parties, including their opposition to Westminster control and their belief that their respective nations would be better served by governing themselves. While the specific wording of the declaration has not yet been made public, the very act of signing it together sends a clear message to London.

Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth has been pushing Welsh independence up the political agenda in Wales, a cause that has historically had less public support than Scottish independence but has been gaining ground in recent years. His presence alongside Swinney signals a growing sense of coordination between the two parties.

Michelle O’Neill’s involvement adds another layer of significance. As the first Irish republican to hold the position of First Minister in Northern Ireland, her participation in a joint independence declaration alongside Scottish and Welsh leaders is a moment that would have seemed unlikely not so long ago.

The meeting in Cardiff is likely to draw mixed reactions. Supporters of independence across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will welcome the show of unity, while unionists will argue it amounts to little more than political theatre with no practical path forward.

For Scotland specifically, the road to another independence referendum remains blocked for now. The UK Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Holyrood does not have the power to hold a referendum without Westminster’s consent, and the Labour government under Keir Starmer has shown no appetite for granting that permission.

Swinney has continued to argue that independence is the best future for Scotland, pointing to issues like Brexit, which Scotland voted against, and decisions made at Westminster that he says do not reflect Scottish interests. The Cardiff declaration will likely touch on similar themes of self-determination and democratic accountability.

Whether this kind of cross-border solidarity translates into any real political momentum remains to be seen. Critics will point out that declarations and symbolic gestures do not change the constitutional reality facing all three parties. But for those who support independence, seeing the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland standing together and speaking with one voice is exactly the kind of image they want front and centre.