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Westminster’s Era Ends as Nations Back Independence Talks

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

John Swinney said Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham will be the United Kingdom’s last prime minister.
First Ministers of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Irish opposition leader Mary Lou McDonald signed a memorandum in Cardiff.
The memorandum says Westminster’s era ends, allowing each nation to decide its own future.
Swinney pledged a Scottish independence referendum for 2031 after the next parliamentary election.

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Story summary

John Swinney said Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham will be the United Kingdom’s last prime minister.
First Ministers of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Irish opposition leader Mary Lou McDonald signed a memorandum in Cardiff.
The memorandum says Westminster’s era ends, allowing each nation to decide its own future.
Swinney pledged a Scottish independence referendum for 2031 after the next parliamentary election.