John Swinney will step up his campaign for independence at a meeting with the leaders of Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin in Cardiff.
The meeting on Monday will consider how the parties can work constructively with one another to force constitutional change on to the Westminster agenda.
SNP leader Mr Swinney will be joined by his Plaid Cymru counterpart Rhun ap Iorwerth, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O’Neill.
Discussions will focus on identifying practical areas of partnership around the economy, energy and European and international cooperation.
The leaders will also call on the British government to prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change in Wales, Scotland and the north of Ireland.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Swinney said: “We are at a pivotal moment of constitutional change, and our parties share the common belief that our interests will never be served by Westminster, and that the people of our respective nations must have a meaningful say over their future.
“Today, our parties will come together and commit to working in partnership on areas such as social justice, energy, and the right to national self-determination.”
However, it comes days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham corrected Mr Swinney on his position on a second referendum. Despite hinting during a Commons debate last week that a second poll was possible, he wrote to the First Minister to make it clear that “independence and a referendum are off limits”.
The Cardiff meeting, nonetheless, will be seen as a marker in the constitutional debate. Rhun ap Iorwerth said it was “an important moment in our politics”, adding that “May’s election was a turning point for Wales. We now have a Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government with a clear mandate to do things differently.
“Across these islands, we are seeing a new political landscape emerge, with a growing recognition that the Westminster model is no longer working.”
Mary Lou McDonald said: “Ireland, Scotland and Wales have different histories and different constitutional circumstances. Those differences must be respected.’
Michelle O’Neill added: “Partition has failed the island of Ireland and the best interests of our people have never been served by those in Westminster. However, change is happening right across these islands and we must be ready for constitutional change when it comes.”
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Harriet Cross said: “John Swinney’s separatist summit is nothing more than another blatant plot to break up the UK. We know he will work with anyone, including Sinn Féin, to achieve his lifelong dream.
“Swinney is clearly emboldened by Andy Burnham’s naive remarks about the Union and is now typically using his constitutional obsession to distract from the SNP’s long list of failures.
“He should be spending time focusing on what really matters to Scots. Instead, he’s starting his week with a performative photo call to push for a divisive referendum that Scots don’t want.”
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