Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join call for self-determination: “Our future is in the EU

The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have signed a joint declaration in Cardiff calling for “their right to self-determination” to be recognized and stating that the future of their nations should lie within the European Union.

The meeting is considered unprecedented, as all three territories are currently governed by political forces that support independence or seek a greater degree of separation from the United Kingdom.

Through the declaration, the leaders are calling on the British government “to prepare and facilitate constitutional reforms”. They argue that Brexit has damaged their economies and that their future ties should be oriented towards the EU.

The meeting in Cardiff took place a few days after a statement by US President Donald Trump, who said that the reunification of the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland would be “a fantastic thing”. His comments brought the debate over the constitutional future of the island of Ireland back into focus.

Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, said Trump’s words demonstrated that discussion of Irish reunification remains “alive” and that the issue has now also attracted international attention.

The three territories’ call for self-determination clashes with the position of British governments, which have so far refused to hold new independence referendums.

The referendum held in Scotland in 2014 ended with 55% of voters opposing independence. Despite this result, Scotland’s First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), John Swinney, has said that another referendum should be held within the next five years.

In Wales, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has described independence as a “distant goal”. He has not set a date for a referendum and has stressed that the decision should be left to the Welsh people.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin aims to hold a referendum in Northern Ireland on reunification with the Republic of Ireland by 2030.

The British government continues to oppose holding a new referendum on Scottish independence. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said that he strongly believes in preserving the United Kingdom.

Political scientist Michael Keating, a professor at the University of Aberdeen, described the joint declaration as “politically significant”. According to him, it carries particular weight because the SNP and Plaid Cymru have kept their distance from Sinn Féin for years.

However, Keating believes the declaration is not expected to influence the British government’s position on calls for constitutional changes.