The First Ministers of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are scheduled to meet in Cardiff on Monday to discuss closer collaboration, including on constitutional matters. This will be the first face-to-face meeting between the three nationalist leaders since Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth took office in May.
Mr ap Iorwerth will host SNP leader John Swinney and Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill on Monday morning, with Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald also attending. In the afternoon, Mr ap Iorwerth will hold further talks with Mr Swinney, where they are expected to sign an agreement on "future collaboration in areas of shared interest".
A Plaid Cymru spokesperson stated the meeting is an opportunity for the leaders to discuss working more closely on issues important to people across their nations, including energy, the economy, and their relationship with Europe, as well as wider political and constitutional questions. Mr Swinney believes there is "undeniable" momentum behind constitutional change.
The meetings follow recent discussions in the Commons regarding Scottish independence, where Prime Minister Andy Burnham appeared to indicate a second referendum could be held if there was clear public support, though he later clarified it remained "off limits". The devolved leaders are also likely to discuss the way their nations are funded by the UK government, with Welsh ministers having long called for reform of the Barnett funding formula.