In full: The SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin memorandum of understanding

The leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin have met in Cardiff to agree a memorandum of understanding which declares that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end”.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney and his Welsh counterpart Rhun ap Iorwerth were joined by Sinn Féin duo Michelle O’Neill, the first minister of Northern Ireland, and party president Mary Lou McDonald, Ireland’s leader of the opposition.

The meeting saw a memorandum of understanding agreed on their respective campaigns on the constitution.

The SNP and Plaid Cymru promote independence for Scotland and Wales, while Sinn Fein supports a unified Ireland.

The full text is as follows:

“Each of our nations has the right to determine its own future, through democratic means and in accordance with the wishes of its people.
 
“Today, Plaid Cymru, the Scottish National Party and Sinn Féin are coming together to reaffirm our commitment to working constructively with one another in the shared interests of our people.
 
“We share a belief that the nations and communities we represent deserve greater ambition, greater economic opportunity and a stronger voice in determining their own futures.
 
“The political landscape across these islands is changing. 
 
“For the first time ever, there are first ministers in Scotland, in Wales and in the North of Ireland who are all committed to independence from the United Kingdom. 
 
“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.
 
“We believe there is a better way: nations working together as equals, sharing ideas and expertise, and building relationships based on mutual respect and common interests.
 
“Momentum is behind our movements; we believe that constitutional change is coming.
 
“We therefore commit to strengthening cooperation between our parties and identifying practical areas where working together can make a real difference.
 
“These include:

- A stronger, fairer economy: Sharing ideas and experience on how to build productive, prosperous economies that create good jobs, tackle inequality and ensure that wealth and opportunity are spread more fairly. We reject Whitehall’s broken economic model and will instead build economies which deliver social justice and reduce inequality across our nations.
- Expanding our own energy resources, particularly our vast resources of renewable energy, to bring down bills for families and businesses. The energy wealth of our nations should serve the needs of our people.
- Europe and international cooperation: Brexit has damaged our economies and limited opportunities for our people. We believe the future of our nations belongs in the European Union. We want to work together to rebuild and strengthen those European relationships, creating greater opportunities for trade, investment, culture and cooperation.
- Our nations have the right to self-determination: No Westminster government has the right to block democracy or undermine the principle that our people will decide their own future.

“We recognise that our parties have different constitutional positions and that each nation will determine its own future in its own way and in its own time.
 
“What unites us is a determination to ensure that the voices of our nations are heard, that our people have the opportunity to thrive, and that cooperation between Scotland, Wales and Ireland can be strengthened.
 
“We call for the British Government to prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change in each jurisdiction.
 
“The future should be one in which our nations can cooperate confidently, speak for themselves and build relationships with one another and with the wider world based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.
 
“Today marks a further step in building that cooperation.”
 
John Swinney, Leader of the SNP
Rhun ap Iorwerth, Leader of Plaid Cymru 
Mary Lou McDonald, President of Sinn Féin
Michelle O'Neill, Vice President of Sinn Féin