Cardiff summit raises questions about Britain's future

- For the first time ever, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are led by parties that advocate independence. Andy Burnham must now realize that he will go down in history as Britain's last Prime Minister, John Swinney, leader of the Scottish SNP and First Minister of Scotland told The Telegraph, who claimed on Sunday that the aim of the summit, to be held at St David's Hotel in Cardiff tomorrow Monday, is to "break up Britain".

The meeting de facto marks what could be a historic turning point. The three parts of the country - which are part of the United Kingdom and count as their own countries without being sovereign states - are expected to sign a joint agreement that calls for the right to self-determination and referendums on independence.

In all three countries, nationalist parties have had major electoral successes in 2024 and 2026 – something that has changed the balance of power in relation to the rule in Westminster, i.e. the political power in London.

The Telegraph lists four main points of the upcoming agreement:

Economy, energy, EU membership and self-determination.

On the issue of EU membership, there is consensus that all three nations should be members of the EU – Scotland and Wales as new members, and Northern Ireland as part of a united Irish Republic.

Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Féin president and opposition leader in Ireland, will also attend Monday's summit. Sinn Féin is the political party whose aim is to unite Ireland.

Just two days ago, US President Donald Trump entered the discussion when, during a visit to Dublin, he stated that he believes in the unification of Northern Ireland and Ireland. The island was divided in 1922 after several hundred years of British rule and several independence wars. Northern Ireland remained part of the monarchy while the rest of the island later became an independent republic.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham reacted coldly to this. He told The Guardian that the government's stance on the issue is unchanged - and he does not believe there is popular support for another referendum on either a united Ireland or an independent Scotland.

According to Burnham, both referendums and demands for independence would disrupt the work that is going on to grow the economy and improve the living conditions of families.

The question, however, is whether the three nations have a common desire to actually break up Great Britain, which is the picture given by Scottish Prime Minister John Swinney.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of the Plaid Cymru party in Wales, says in an interview with The Guardian on Sunday that the goal of the collaboration is not to break up Great Britain, but to focus on the respective independence of the three parts of the country:

- My point of departure is not to, either on my own or together with other partners, break up Great Britain. I want to build my country which is on a constitutional journey where independence is the ultimate goal – but without any set timetable or rush. It is in the hands of the people of Wales, he says.