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Party leaders sign memorandum in Cardiff declaring ‘Westminster’s time is coming to an end’
Party leaders sign memorandum in Cardiff declaring ‘Westminster’s time is coming to an end’ Sinn Féin vice-president and First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Scottish National Party leader and First Minister of Scotland John Swinney.
Photograph: Jon Rowley/EPA, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru in Wales have declared “Westminster’s time is coming to an end” in a joint agreement aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold referendums on independence. The first ministers of the UK’s three devolved nations – SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice presidentThe group, which met in their capacity as party leaders – rather than as officials in their respective governments – also stated their ambitions for partnership around the economy, energy and international co-operation.
Taoiseach downplays ‘overreaction’ to Trump’s call for united Ireland “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 “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. “We therefore commit to strengthening co-operation between our parties and identifying practical areas where working together can make a real difference. ” The agreement sets out plans to “reject Whitehall’s broken economic model” and share ideas on economic growth, expand energy resources, and states “the future of our nations belongs in the European Union”.
The leaders add: “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.
“We recognise that our parties have different constitutional positions and that each nation will determine its own future in its own way and in its own time. First Minister of Scotland John Swinney, First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill.
Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA WireDuring his visit to Ireland at the weekend, the president of the United States made a number of comments supporting Irish unity, which he said would be a “great thing” that “should happen. ” The Sinn Féin leader said she was not surprised at Trump’s comments, as the United States had been a partner in building the peace process for decades.
“It’s certainly the first time that it’s been expressed so explicitly, and that’s obviously in the style of the serving president. But people just need to remember that this is a long-standing effort over successive administrations and on a bipartisan basis for the United States to back Ireland,” she told RTÉ Radio 1’s David McCullagh show. McDonald said she welcomed Trump’s comments, and hoped they would “clarify” matters for the Government and the Taoiseach.
“The Tánaiste has a more advanced position on these matters, and Micheál Martin, quite frankly, needs to catch up because this is a serious matter,” she said. “We need to get this right. We need to be orderly, prepared. This transition from a partition to United Ireland has to be absolutely peaceful.
It has to be democratic, it has to include all shades of opinion, all across the spectrum, right across our island, including voices from unionism and loyalism. And that’s not just going to happen by chance. The Government in Dublin needs to be very front-footed from here on in, in shaping and clearing the space for that democratic conversation. ”previously said O’Neill had “not sought any agreement or permission from me to travel, attend or sign anything as First Minister”.
McDonald said O’Neill “doesn’t need the permission of anybody to travel here”. McDonald said the memorandum of understanding was being signed between Sinn Féin, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.
“And they are the three political parties that have produced and provided the first ministers in Wales, in Scotland, and in the north, respectively. ” – Additional reporting PATaoiseach downplays ‘overreaction’ to Trump’s call for united IrelandLandlord who advertised house at higher rent after evicting family ordered to pay €15,000Removal of whiskey tariff ‘step in the right direction’ for hard-hit sectorIrish unity rather than protests the focus of US coverage of Trump visitOur politics team's behind-the-scenes take on events of the day. Sent Monday to Friday when the Dáil is in session
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