By Luke Hunter
Correspondent
The First Ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland signed a historic memorandum of understanding while meeting in Cardiff on Sept. 14.
According to The National, the MOU called upon Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s U.K. government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change.”
The MOU further declared “For people watching across these islands — for people watching around the world — there could be no clearer sign that Westminster’s time is coming to an end,” according to ABC News.
Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, stated in a press conference that U.K. Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, would not be able to halt “the tide” of nationalism, Fox News reported.
O’Neill said “Our common cause here is the understanding that Westminster does not and will never serve our people well.”
According to ABC News, the First Ministers of both Scotland and Northern Ireland called for independence referendums to be held, however, those referendums can only be held once the U.K. government consents to hold them.
Prime Minister Burnham does not plan on engaging in independence memorandums or constitutional debates regarding Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s sovereignty. Rather, the Prime Minister plans on continued partnership and cooperation to combat economic challenges felt throughout all parts of the U.K., According to The National.
ABC News reported that Prime Minister Burnham had previously claimed that if clear support existed in Scotland for an independence referendum he would grant one, but Burnham later sent the Scottish First Minister, John Swinney, a letter saying an independence referendum was “off-limits.”
In response to the MOU and Scotland and Northern Ireland’s call for an independence referendum, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated “The Prime Minister is committed to delivering change across all four nations of the United Kingdom and believes strongly in the Union,” The National reported.
Burnham’s spokesperson was later asked if a representative was sent to the Sept. 14 meeting between Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In response, the spokesperson said “In terms of the nature of that meeting, and indeed his approach more broadly, he works closely with the first and deputy first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
According to ABC News, the leaders of the three semiautonomous regions of the U.K. released the MOU 48 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for a unified Ireland while visiting the Irish city of Dublin on Sept. 12.
President Trump doubled down on his support for a unified Ireland the following day, Sunday Sept 13. According to Fox News, President Trump reportedly said it made sense to merge the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland. President Trump was asked to comment on the autonomy of Scotland in which he declined to answer.
While the Sept. 14 MOU doesn’t present any serious challenge to the union of the United Kingdom, the First Minister’s of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s willingness to cooperate together against the interest of Westminster reflect the changing attitudes felt throughout the British Isles.
