![\"John](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Swinney-at-hustings-event-at-Gogarburn.png\")
John Swinney will step up his campaign for independence at a meeting with the leaders of Plaid Cymru and Sinn F\u00e9in in Cardiff.<\/p>\n
The meeting on Monday will consider how the parties can work constructively with one another to force constitutional change on to the Westminster agenda.<\/p>\n
SNP leader Mr Swinney will be joined by his Plaid Cymru counterpart Rhun ap Iorwerth,\u00a0Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn F\u00e9in vice-president Michelle O\u2019Neill. <\/p>\n
Discussions will focus on identifying practical areas of partnership around the economy, energy and European and international cooperation.<\/p>\n
The leaders will also call on the British government to prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change in Wales, Scotland and the north of Ireland.<\/p>\n
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Swinney said: \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201cindependence and a referendum are off limits\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Cardiff meeting, nonetheless, will be seen as a marker in the constitutional debate. Rhun ap Iorwerth said it was \u201can important moment in our politics\u201d, adding that \u201cMay\u2019s election was a turning point for Wales. We now have a Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government with a clear mandate to do things differently. <\/p>\n
\u201cAcross these islands, we are seeing a new political landscape emerge, with a growing recognition that the Westminster model is no longer working.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mary Lou McDonald said: \u201cIreland, Scotland and Wales have different histories and different constitutional circumstances. Those differences must be respected.\u2019<\/p>\n
Michelle O\u2019Neill added: \u201cPartition 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Harriet Cross said: \u201cJohn Swinney\u2019s separatist summit is nothing more than another blatant plot to break up the UK. We know he will work with anyone, including Sinn F\u00e9in, to achieve his lifelong dream.<\/p>\n
\u201cSwinney is clearly emboldened by Andy Burnham\u2019s naive remarks about the Union and is now typically using his constitutional obsession to distract from the SNP\u2019s long list of failures.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe should be spending time focusing on what really matters to Scots. Instead, he\u2019s starting his week with a performative photo call to push for a divisive referendum that Scots don\u2019t want.\u201d<\/p>\n
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