John Swinney said he wants to work with Sinn Fein and Plaid Cymru to secure Scottish independence. According to Swinney, the SNP will win a Holyrood majority in May, giving him a mandate to secure a new vote on separation. He has emphasized that this electoral success would strengthen his position to pursue independence negotiations.
In Wales, Plaid Cymru is close to a historic win in the Senedd, with a poll putting them level with Reform UK as Labour's support collapses. Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the May Senedd election is a two-horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, declaring Labour is over in Wales. Labour has led Wales since the Senedd was first established in 1999, but the May election could see more than two decades in power brought to an end.
I certainly would enjoy the cooperation with counterparts in Plaid and Sinn Fein in Wales and Northern Ireland. I don't speak for them. But certainly, from my part, I would appreciate that collaboration to change the dynamics of the United Kingdom so that we can... I can secure my objective of winning Scottish independence. I think the United Kingdom would be changed irreversibly if that outcome was to be the case.
John Swinney and Rhun ap Iorwerth have set out their vision for a progressive alliance between the Scottish Government and a Plaid-led administration in Wales, aiming to coordinate policies and push for greater autonomy. In Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill is First Minister and is not due to face an election until next year. Sinn Fein wants a referendum on a united Ireland by 2030, a goal that aligns with broader nationalist movements across the UK.
Unionist politicians have issued stark warnings about these developments. The Scottish Conservatives said the Union is on the line at this election, highlighting the potential constitutional shifts. Ex-Tory cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt warned the Union could be at risk if Sinn Fein, the SNP, and Plaid hold power simultaneously, citing the combined influence of these parties.
Our parties share something deeply important, a belief that democracy works best when power sits as close as possible to the people it serves.
Criticism of the Westminster system has been central to the independence push. John Swinney said Westminster is a system that clearly doesn't work for Scotland or Wales, regardless of who is in power, arguing for decentralized governance. Rhun ap Iorwerth said he wants a constructive relationship with the UK Prime Minister, based on transparency and honesty, while still advocating for Welsh interests.
It's a system that concentrates power, hoards resources, and asks our communities to make do with less. It's a system that, no matter which Westminster party is in power, so clearly doesn't work for our countries and our people.
We know it doesn't have to be this way, we know that our counties can do so much better, when powers are placed in our hands there is a different path.
But devolution is not the destination. It is part of the journey.
It is by working together that we can best make the case for our nations to have the power to make our own decisions, two independent countries that work together with others based on partnership, consent and democracy, where power is shared, not imposed.