The leaders of the SNP, Sinn Féin and Plaid Cymru are meeting in Cardiff today as they seek to strengthen cooperation between Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and press the UK Government on the right to hold future independence referendums.
SNP leader John Swinney, Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding during the meeting.
The agreement is understood to focus on the right of each nation to determine its constitutional future through democratic means.
The three politicians are attending in their capacity as party leaders rather than as representatives of the devolved administrations. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald is also due to take part.
Ms O’Neill’s attendance has prompted criticism from her Stormont power-sharing colleague Emma Little-Pengelly. The DUP Deputy First Minister has said that Ms O’Neill had not sought her agreement or permission to attend the gathering in her role as First Minister.
Ms Little-Pengelly has also accused Ms O’Neill of attempting to use the office of First Minister for political purposes.
The Cardiff meeting comes against the backdrop of continued opposition from successive UK governments to another Scottish independence referendum following the 2014 vote.
Earlier this week, comments by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham had raised expectations that the Government's position could be changing. Mr Burnham told the House of Commons that another referendum could take place if there was a clear consensus in Scotland.
However, Downing Street subsequently clarified its position in a letter to Mr Swinney, stating that another referendum remained off limits.
The constitutional future of Northern Ireland is also expected to feature prominently in discussions, following renewed attention on the prospect of a border poll.
Sinn Féin has said the parties will use the meeting to identify areas where they can cooperate, including issues affecting public services, funding and the powers available to devolved governments.
A Sinn Féin source said the gathering would examine “where the parties can work together to make a difference to people’s lives” while recognising that each nation should have the ability to determine its own future.
On Irish unity, the source said: “The constitutional future belongs to the people of this island. The Good Friday Agreement gives us the democratic means to decide it, and now is the time to prepare seriously for that choice.”
The source added: “Irish unity is not a distant aspiration. The work of building the new Ireland must begin now.”
Mr ap Iorwerth has stressed that the meeting is also intended to address areas of common interest beyond constitutional issues.
He said: “We’re talking about how we can work together, let’s talk about what we have in common and what we don’t.”
He pointed to concerns around funding and the powers available to the devolved administrations, arguing that resources should be distributed fairly and that the nations should have the ability to shape their own futures.
The meeting follows comments from Scottish Education Secretary Màiri McAllan, who said the possibility of another independence referendum remained open.
Speaking on the BBC, Ms McAllan said: “An independence referendum is not off the table.”
She described independence as transformational change that would allow Scotland to pursue its own future internationally.
