Nationalist leaders sign Cardiff Agreement for self-determination

Nationalist leaders from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales have signed the Cardiff Agreement, a memorandum of understanding that advocates for the right to self-determination for their respective peoples. The agreement was signed by leaders from the SNP, Sinn Féin, and Plaid Cymru, alongside the leader of the Northern Ireland government, following a unique political landscape where these parties hold power in Edinburgh, Belfast, and Cardiff.

The signatories—Mary Lou McDonald, Michelle O’Neill, John Swinney, and Rhun ap Iorweth—expressed shared goals including potential accession to the European Union, promoting economic growth while combating inequality, and investing in renewable energy.

While the agreement serves as a tool for political pressure against London, it does not immediately trigger a formal break from Westminster. The document notes that the participating parties maintain “different constitutional positions” and that each nation will determine its own future according to its own specific timeline and path.