Celtic leaders prepare joint declaration defending the right to seek UK independence

A coordinated constitutional message

The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were preparing to use a Celtic summit to affirm that their nations have the right to pursue independence from the United Kingdom. The planned joint declaration represents an unusually coordinated constitutional intervention by the three devolved administrations. It does not itself call a referendum or alter the law, but it places self-determination at the centre of their relationship with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government.

Who is involved

The initiative brings together Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth. Their parties and constitutional positions are not identical, and Northern Ireland’s power-sharing system differs fundamentally from the arrangements in Scotland and Wales. Agreement on a common principle is therefore politically significant even without a shared timetable, campaign structure or proposed legal mechanism.

The declaration is best understood as a statement of political authority rather than an immediate procedural demand. Westminster retains decisive legal power over another Scottish independence referendum, while Northern Ireland’s route to reunification is governed by the Belfast Agreement framework. Wales has no equivalent referendum mechanism already embedded in a peace settlement. Those differences mean any practical next steps would still require separate national strategies.

Downing Street’s contrasting approach

Burnham’s government has publicly favoured deeper, practical devolution over renewed constitutional contests. An official account of his July calls with the three first ministers said the administration wanted measures supporting growth and public services rather than further referendums. That position creates a clear point of friction: devolved leaders are seeking recognition of a right to choose independence, while London is concentrating on changing how the union operates.

The dispute will unfold alongside established intergovernmental machinery. Ministers from the four governments already meet through standing committees to coordinate policies that cross constitutional boundaries. A June communiqué recorded cooperation on public services, economic policy and other shared concerns, with another meeting scheduled for the autumn. The Celtic initiative adds a political layer to those administrative relationships rather than replacing them.

What to watch

The declaration’s final language will determine whether it remains a broad statement of principle or becomes a platform for specific demands. Key questions include whether the leaders seek agreed referendum rules, permanent guarantees against Westminster obstruction or simply recognition that constitutional change is legitimate. Downing Street’s response will also show whether Burnham can maintain cooperative relations with devolved governments while rejecting their preferred route to fundamental constitutional change.