UK’s nationalist leaders come together to sign joint pledge on 'sharing ideas' and demanding 'self determination'

The leaders of the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein have said Westminster’s time is “coming to an end” – as they pledged to work together to share ideas and demand “the right to self-determination”.

In a joint statement, the nationalist leaders said each of their nations “has the right to determine its own future, through democratic means and in accordance with the wishes of its people”.

placeholder image — Nationalist leaders from across the UK came together in Cardiff. Pic: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

First ministers John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth and Michelle O’Neill – alongside Mary Lou McDonald, a member of parliament in the Republic of Ireland – met in their capacity as party leaders in Cardiff on Monday morning.

They claimed “momentum is behind our movements” and that “constitutional change is coming”. Therefore they said they were would work together on a number of issues, namely:

• A stronger, fairer economy: Sharing ideas and experience on how to build productive, prosperous economies that create good jobs, tackle inequality and ensure that wealth and opportunity are spread more fairly. We reject Whitehall's broken economic model and will instead build economies which deliver social justice and reduce inequality across our nations.

• Expanding our own energy resources: Our vast resources of renewable energy, to bring down bills for families and businesses. The energy wealth of our nations should serve the needs of our people.

• Europe and international cooperation: Brexit has damaged our economies and limited opportunities for our people. We believe the future of our nations belongs in the European Union. We want to work together to rebuild and strengthen those European relationships, creating greater opportunities for trade, investment, culture and cooperation.

• 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. What unites us is a determination to ensure that the voices of our nations are heard”, they said.