Andy Burnham told he cannot stop break up of UK as PM faces calls to hold three independence votes

The three parties have declared that "Westminster’s time is coming to an end" in a joint agreement to increase pressure on the UK Government to hold independence referendums.

SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill signed the memorandum of understanding at a meeting in Cardiff this morning.

Ms O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s First Minister, said the Prime Minister "will not be able to hold back the tide" of nationalism in the three nations.

Speaking at the joint press conference, she said: "We’re certainly living in times of enormous change, change that is unstoppable, change that, 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.

"Our common cause here is the understanding that Westminster does not and will never serve our people well.

"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 that message is heard in Westminster."

The leaders called on the UK Government to "prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change".

The historic memorandum of understanding also sets out ambitions for greater cooperation on the economy, energy and international affairs.

It read: "The political landscape across these islands is changing. For the first time ever, people across these islands have 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."

They added: "Momentum is behind our movements; we believe that constitutional change is coming."

The meeting was held in their capacity as party leaders rather than as representatives of their respective governments.

The agreement commits the parties to strengthening cooperation and identifying practical areas where closer collaboration could deliver tangible benefits.

It also sets out plans to “reject Whitehall’s broken economic model”, share ideas to promote economic growth and expand energy resources.

The leaders maintain that their nations have the right to self-determination and argue that no UK Government should be able to prevent democratic decisions about their constitutional futures.

They said: "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. We call for the British Government to prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change in each jurisdiction."

Mr Swinney said that a Scottish independence referendum "must be held within the next five years", arguing there is a mandate for independence due to the pro-independence majority of MSPs.

The SNP leader predicted that Andy Burnham would be the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and that Scots would vote to leave the union in the event of another independence referendum.

He said: "The people of Scotland, if given the choice of independence in a referendum, will take that choice, because all of the information that we see in front of us about the trends in opinion polling indicate that’s the preference of the people of Scotland.”

However, he said the country had faced “obstruction” from Andy Burnham's government, which has rejected SNP calls for another referendum.

Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill was part of the signing of the memorandum of understanding at a meeting in Cardiff this morning

PA

"The people of Scotland are entitled to decide their own future,” he said during a press conference.

Meanwhile, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said Andy Burnham has “a lot of learning to do” about devolution,

He said: "I want to have a positive relationship with him, I believe he wants to have a positive relationship with me. My job is to get him to really understand what devolution is to Wales and what Wales’s needs are moving forward.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is committed to delivering change across all four nations of the United Kingdom and believes strongly in the Union.

"The United Kingdom is at its best when people come together around our shared values and problem-solving, rather than division, and the Prime Minister will continue to ease pressures on household finances, and delivering greater economic security, rather than engaging in constitutional debates or further referendums."