Wales and Scotland sign new agreement to strengthen government cooperation

Nation.Cymru staff

The Welsh and Scottish governments have signed a new agreement setting out plans for closer cooperation on issues ranging from the cost of living and economic growth to relations with the European Union.

First Ministers Rhun ap Iorwerth and John Swinney signed the Cytundeb Caerdydd – Cardiff Agreement during Mr Swinney’s visit to the Welsh capital on Monday.

The agreement comes on the same day that the two leaders joined Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald in signing a separate memorandum calling for the UK Government to prepare for constitutional change.

The Cardiff Agreement, however, is between the Welsh and Scottish governments rather than their respective political parties and focuses on areas where ministers believe the two administrations can work together.

Those include tackling child poverty, improving living standards, promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth, fiscal arrangements, climate change and resilience, international relations including links with the EU, and language, culture, media and sport.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Today’s agreement sets out areas of shared interest on which we as First Ministers and our respective governments will collaborate in the coming years, to strengthen democracy and improve outcomes for the people of Wales and Scotland.

“While Wales and Scotland are on different constitutional journeys, we both share a commitment to strong, accountable devolved government, and to a relationship between the governments of these islands built on trust and mutual respect.

“We share a belief that our people should decide their own future, and that the Union isn’t working fairly for either nation. We will use every opportunity available to us to press the case for greater fairness for Wales and Scotland and for powers over our constitutional futures.”

Speaking later at a press conference in Cardiff, the First Minister said the people of Wales would determine the timing of any future independence referendum.

He said: “I believe that Wales will thrive as a nation when we take that decision to become an independent nation, working in partnership with others.

“The timescale will be set by the people of Wales, ie. when they are persuaded.

“My job is to persuade and it seems from the polls, from the direction of travel, that people more and more are absolutely getting persuaded.

“It’s not up to me to dictate, is it? It’s for me to listen to the people of Wales and to show that leadership.”

Mr Swinney described the signing of the Cardiff Agreement as an “important moment in the history of devolution”.

He said: “It will improve the way the Scottish and Welsh Governments work together on our shared priorities so we can deliver better outcomes for the people we serve.

“The Agreement reflects a relationship built on trust and mutual respect. Distinct approaches will still be necessary, but we share common goals and a commitment to learning from each other.

“The new era of co-operation represented by the signing of this Agreement be underpinned by a shared belief that the people of Scotland and Wales are best placed to decide their own constitutional future and should not be held back by a UK system that does not work for our nations.”

Scottish independence referendum

Mr Swinney used the press conference following the separate meeting of Plaid Cymru, SNP and Sinn Féin leaders to predict that Prime Minister Andy Burnham would be the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

He also said another Scottish independence referendum should be held within the current Holyrood term, which ends in 2031.

Mr Burnham told the House of Commons last week that a vote on Scottish independence could take place if there was a “clear consensus” for one, although a subsequent letter to Mr Swinney said another referendum remained “off limits”.

Mr Swinney said the Prime Minister should stand by his Commons comments.

“When you say things to the House of Commons when you’re the prime minister, you should stick to them. That’s vital. That’s the whole purpose of parliamentary accountability,” he said.

The UK Government said Mr Burnham “believes strongly in the Union” and was focused on issues including household finances and economic security rather than “constitutional debates or further referendums”.

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