Welsh First Minister to host Scottish and Irish leaders to discuss future of their nations
This will be the first meeting of the three since coming to power
Nationalist leaders to meet in Cardiff over future of their nations
Leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to meet in Cardiff on Tuesday to discuss closer co-operation and the constitutional future of their nations.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney will meet Plaid Cymru leader and Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, alongside Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald.
The meeting follows growing co-operation between the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin after strong election results for the parties earlier this year.
The four leaders are expected to discuss areas of common interest and the principle that people in each nation should have the right to determine their own future.
The gathering comes as constitutional issues have returned to the centre of UK politics.
Mr Swinney has been pushing for a further Scottish independence referendum, while Sinn Féin continues to campaign for Irish reunification.
Mr ap Iorwerth has previously called for greater powers for Wales, including additional control over areas such as policing, justice and taxation.
The meeting is likely to attract attention from Westminster, particularly as all three devolved nations are now led by parties that support greater national self-government.
The leaders have stressed that they do not agree on every issue, but they have said there is common ground in seeking greater decision-making powers for their nations.
The Cardiff meeting is expected to further discussions over how the parties could work together while pursuing their separate constitutional goals.