STORY: Nationalist leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed a cooperation agreement on Monday (September 14), all saying their countries should be able to determine their own futures.

Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said a growing number of people believe the Westminster system is no longer working, and argued that power should be brought closer to communities.

The leaders were united by the principle of self-determination, Scottish First Minister John Swinney said, adding that their discussions marked an important moment in debates about the future of the United Kingdom.

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill said constitutional change was gaining momentum, with O'Neill saying Westminster would not be able to halt what she described as an unstoppable tide of change.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish leaders say Westminster not working, back self-determination

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM FIRST MINISTER OF WALES, RHUN AP IORWERTH, FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND, JOHN SWINNEY, SINN FEIN PRESIDENT, MARY LOU MCDONALD AND FIRST MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND, MICHELLE O'NEILL / AP IORWERTH, SWINNEY, MCDONALD AND O'NEILL SIGNING AGREEMENT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: CARDIFF, WALES, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 14, 2026) (UK POOL - No use UK, except UK newspapers)

1. (LEFT TO RIGHT) FIRST MINISTER OF WALES, RHUN AP IORWERTH, FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND, JOHN SWINNEY, SINN FEIN PRESIDENT, MARY LOU MCDONALD AND FIRST MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND, MICHELLE O'NEILL, ENTERING CONFERENCE ROOM / POSING FOR PHOTOS

2. AP IORWERTH, SWINNEY, MCDONALD AND O'NEILL SIGNING AGREEMENT

3. AP IORWERTH, SWINNEY, MCDONALD AND O'NEILL POSING WITH AGREEMENT / TAKING SEATS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIRST MINISTER OF WALES, RHUN AP IORWERTH, SAYING:

“Following May's historic election Plaid Cymru is now, of course, leading the Welsh Government. We have a mandate for change to make Wales more confident, more prosperous and more in control of its future. There is now also a growing recognition that Westminster is not working, and that power needs to genuinely be brought closer to people and to communities.”

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIRST MINISTER OF WALES, RHUN AP IORWERTH, SAYING:

“Our journeys may be different in many ways, but we can beyond those journeys and make those journeys as friends, as neighbours, and as equals.”

7. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND, JOHN SWINNEY, SAYING:

“What today represents is a pivotal moment in the constitutional journey of the United Kingdom, because what the outcome in the election in May did was, it created a situation which, for the first time in history, there are first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who believe that their countries should decide their own future. And that principle of self-determination is absolutely fundamental to the discussions that we have had today and that are fundamental to the discussions that we will have in the period to come.”

9. WHITE FLASH

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND, JOHN SWINNEY, SAYING:

“Now we will each individually be responsible for our own journeys, but we are absolutely united by that principle of self-determination.”

11. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINN FEIN PRESIDENT, MARY LOU MCDONALD, SAYING:

“I believe in many ways, Ireland has demonstrated that sometimes that thing that people call impossible is possible. As they say, it seems impossible until it's done. But we're not there yet. We still have a journey to walk. Our country remains partitioned. We have the right to referendum. We have the right to decide our future. And we will not accept or tolerate any British Prime Minister telling us that that right is off the table.”

13. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIRST MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND, MICHELLE O'NEILL, SAYING:

“We're certainly living in times of enormous change. Change that is unstoppable. Change that – and no matter what is said by any British Prime Minister – will not be able to hold back the tide of what's happening in front of our eyes right now.”

15. WHITE FLASH

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIRST MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND, MICHELLE O'NEILL, SAYING:

“I think today is a new departure. It's a new, I think, opportunity for us to work in that common cause, because whilst we are all distinctly different and have our own political priorities, and that's important to reflect that, what I think, what our common cause here is the understanding that Westminster does not and will never serve our people well. I think our common cause here is that we have the right to self-determination. And the common cause that we have here is that we need to collectively ensure that message is heard in Westminster.”

17. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS