Break-up of Britain is inevitable, leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland warn

NATIONALIST leaders have warned that the break-up of the UK is inevitable and that “Westminster’s time is coming to end”. The First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland today signed a joint memorandum demanding independence referendums. First Minister of Scotland John Swinney, First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill Credit: PA Andy Burnham, who ran the Great North Run this weekend, has ruled out an independence referendum Credit: Getty All three devolved powers are for the first time led by separatist parties who want to cut loose from Britain. Only the UK government in Westminster can grant an independence referendum and PM Andy Burnham has ruled out any fresh votes. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! The meeting in Cardiff saw the SNP’s John Swinney, Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorweth and Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill all hit back. Their joint statement said: “Our nations have the right to self-determination. “No Westminster government has the right to block democracy or undermine the principle that our people will decide their own future. “We recognise that our parties have different constitutional positions and that each nation will determine its own future in its own way and in its own time. “We call for the British government to prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change in each jurisdiction.” Mr Swinney said that Mr Burnham will be the last Prime Minister of the UK and warned him against “obstructing” a fresh independence vote. Most read in The Sun Ms O’Neill seized on Donald Trump’s comments that he would want to see a reunited Ireland to say the question was “very much alive”. She said: “I think that tells us where we’re at with where the thinking is around what is the big prize here for our people, and the big prize here is unification. “It is the end of partition and it is that new beginning in a new Ireland.”Labour ministers have dismissed the US President’s remarks and ruled out a vote on ceding Northern Ireland back to the Republic of Ireland. Comment now