First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed a joint memorandum on "independence rights" in Cardiff on Monday, urging the UK government to prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change. The document, signed alongside Sinn Féin chair Mary Lou McDonald, calls for each jurisdiction to be able to determine its constitutional path. Scotland First Minister John Swinney said an independence referendum must be held within five years.

2026-09-14

First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed a joint memorandum on "independence rights" in Cardiff on Monday, urging the UK government to prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change. The document, signed alongside Sinn Féin chair Mary Lou McDonald, calls for each jurisdiction to be able to determine its constitutional path. Scotland First Minister John Swinney said an independence referendum must be held within five years.