THE First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will discuss the “pursuit of a different attitude” from the UK Government around the constitutional question when they meet on Monday, Rhun ap Iorwerth has said.
The Plaid Cymru leader will speak to SNP leader John Swinney and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill in Cardiff about their shared interests, including the future of independence for their respective countries.
Ap Iorwerth told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg the group will talk about what they have in common and what they do not.
“What we don’t is we have distinct nations with our own trajectories and our own priorities, but there are areas on which we see it very, very important to cooperate, as in Scotland on child poverty, for example, Northern Ireland on the economics of renewable energy,” he said.
“But there’s also something that ties us together isn’t there?
“That pursuit of a different attitude from UK government.
“It could be around the constitutional question.
“It could more acutely be around fair funding, making sure that resource is shared in a way that is equitable, that feels fair, that we have the powers to build a future for the people that we represent.”
He said he wants to pursue powers over natural resources, policing, and justice.
“We can work together as first ministers across these islands I think in a positive way for the people we represent whilst also absolutely reflecting on the fact that we have differences between us,” he added.
Policing is devolved in Northern Ireland and Scotland but not in Wales, where the policy area is reserved to Westminster.
Plaid Cymru entered government in Wales in May after a historic election result saw it oust Welsh Labour from power for the first time in more than two decades.
It comes after Swinney warned the Prime Minister that the momentum for constitutional change is “undeniable” and Westminster “must prepare for a post-UK future”.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Swinney said there could be “no clearer sign that the status quo is not sustainable” and that Westminster “must prepare for a post-UK future”.
He said: “Every nation across these islands is standing at a moment of incredible constitutional opportunity.
“There is a growing consensus that the Westminster system simply is not fit for purpose and does not work for ordinary people. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has accepted that himself – and the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have made it clear at the ballot box.
“For the first time ever, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are led by a pro-independence First Ministers.
“There could be no clearer sign that the status quo is not sustainable – and that Westminster must prepare for a post-UK future.
“And crucially, for the first time since 2014, there is a British Prime Minister who has publicly accepted the democratic principle of self-determination.
“The momentum behind serious constitutional change is undeniable. Andy Burnham must now be facing up to the idea that he will go down in history as the final Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.”
Swinney added: “Tomorrow in Cardiff, I am looking forward to discussing a better future with partners from across these islands – and that only comes with the fresh start of independence.”
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister said the rules governing when a repeat of the 2014 vote could be held should be “exactly the same” as those for an Irish reunification referendum.
Following his remarks in the Commons, Swinney wrote to Burnham to meet to agree a legal mechanism which would trigger a second Scottish independence referendum.
However, in a letter to the First Minister on Thursday, the Prime Minister said he had been “highlighting that there is no consensus for an independence referendum in Scotland”.
He told Swinney: “As I made clear to you personally when we met recently in Glasgow, independence and a referendum are off limits as it would take our focus away from growing the economy and helping families with the cost of living.”
