Leaders of nationalist parties in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have united in calling for the right of their people to determine their political future.
The leaders of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin signed a joint agreement during a meeting in Cardiff, Wales, on Monday.
They declared that their nations have the right to self-determination and argued that the Westminster government should not prevent them from deciding their future.
“For the first time ever, people across these islands have first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who are committed to independence from the United Kingdom,” the agreement stated.
The three parties support greater autonomy and, ultimately, independence or constitutional change, although they differ over the timing and process for achieving their goals.
Scotland held an independence referendum in 2014, with 55 percent voting to remain in the UK. Wales currently has no legal power to hold an independence referendum without Westminster’s approval.
Northern Ireland has a different arrangement under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which requires the British government to call a referendum on Irish reunification if it believes a majority is likely to support it.
The meeting comes amid renewed debate over the future of the United Kingdom. Recent opinion polls indicate varying levels of support for independence in Scotland and Wales, while some support Irish reunification in Northern Ireland.
The leaders also agreed to cooperate on issues including renewable energy, economic development and relations with Europe.
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