Plaid Cymru and SNP wins leave UK under threat as pro-independence parties hatch plot to break up Union

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has admitted she intends to work with her expected counterparts in Scotland and Wales to break up the United Kingdom.

The Scottish National Party secured yet another landslide win in Scotland, while Plaid Cymru is on the cusp of gaining power in Wales for the first time.

Throwing her support behind John Swinney and Rhun ap Iorwerth, Ms O'Neill said that it was “the first time ever there could be three pro-independence First Ministers across these islands".

She also claimed that the election results show that the “growing demand for independence cannot be ignored".

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In a message sure to worry Unionists, Northern Ireland's First Minister revealed she is looking forward to “working closely” with the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

She also confirmed that she had been in contact with the two leaders, marking the day as the start of “historic change".

Mary Lou McDonald, the president of Sinn Féin, echoed the message and said it was a “landmark day for the future of the Union” and that she looked forward to working with the SNP and Plaid Cymru “in the spirit of friendship, solidarity and real progress for the people of our nations".

The success of the three parties poses a major concern for Sir Keir Starmer as severe strain is set to be put on the UK.

Mr Swinney said during the election campaign that he was looking forward to working with the other parties to break up the UK.

He added the SNP would collaborate to change the UK’s “dynamics” and that the Union would be “changed irreversibly".

When asked why, he said that “the nature of the discussions” would follow with between the devolved nations and the UK Government.

The SNP and Plaid Cymru are “sister” parties and make addresses at each other's respective conferences.

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Sinn Féin has been in power in Northern Ireland since 2024, with Ms O’Neill up for reelection next year.

On social media, she wrote: “I have contacted SNP leader John Swinney and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth to congratulate them on their enormous mandate.

“For the first time ever, there could be three pro-independence First Ministers across these islands.

“I look forward to continuing to build the friendship between the people of our nations, and to working closely with both John and Rhun in the time ahead.

Ms McDonald predicted in 2024 that there would be a referendum to unify the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland by 2030.

Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, there may be a pathway to a reunification poll in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru toned down independence talk during the election campaign, but opposition has warned that it would pursue the outcome “by stealth” or by using a "backdoor".

The move would mirror the SNP, which won power in 2007 by promising to work with the UK Government before swerving to independence.

Despite Scotland rejecting an independence bid in a 2014 referendum, the SNP has repeatedly called for another one.

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