Swinney Says Prospect of Three Nationalist First Ministers Shows UK Has Fundamentally Changed

Swinney, who leads the SNP, said the “Celtic fringe” was now “centre stage” and it could no longer be “business as usual” in how the UK Government engages with the devolved administrations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. He welcomed Plaid Cymru’s victory in Wales and said he spoke to Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill on Friday evening about their shared interests.

Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth is positioned to become Welsh First Minister, potentially leading a minority government, following the Senedd election. Michelle O’Neill became Northern Ireland’s first nationalist First Minister in 2024. She jointly leads the Stormont Executive with the DUP deputy First Minister on a co-equal basis.

” He said there was still room for greater cooperation to alter the dynamic between Westminster and the devolved nations.

“After Thursday’s elections, there are now set to be first ministers in Wales, Northern Ireland and in Scotland, all committed to fundamental constitutional change,” Swinney said. ” The SNP leader made the comments in Edinburgh on Saturday during a post-election press conference.

He noted clear interest from the three devolved governments in working together, citing recent engagement including a conversation with Michelle O’Neill on Friday. Swinney said the UK is in a “fundamentally different position” due to nationalist administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland and a likely one in Wales.

He stated that Whitehall must adapt to this change and that the devolved governments would press for that outcome. >"We’ve all got our constitutional journeys to take forward, and I’m not going to prescribe anyone else’s.