It’s safe to say, the three leaders agree they think their country will be best served by self-determination, which translates as them, not the UK Government determining how they are run, but each country is in a different position.
Let’s start with Wales.
Plaid Cymru campaigned in the Senedd election that independence wasn’t their priority – their leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said he wanted to show his party could govern, and then leave it to the people of Wales to make clear when they were ready for him tp pursue it. It is however, an ultimate goal for him and his party, for Wales to make its own decisions.
There will be no independence referendum this Senedd term, the party has said. But the party wants to explore how things could be done differently to give Wales greater autonomy.
In his quotes ahead of the meeting, leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: ““May’s election was a turning point for Wales. We now have a Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government with a clear mandate to do things differently. Across these islands, we are seeing a new political landscape emerge, with a growing recognition that the Westminster model is no longer working.
“Our parties have much to gain from working together, as partners and as equals, where we share common interests and where cooperation can improve the lives of the people we represent.”
Since getting into power, via consitution minister Dafydd Trystan Davies, has been working on plans for a commission, to look at Wales’ constitutional options.
Then there is public mood on independence in Wales. a poll just a few days ago said a third of people would back independence in Wales.
Rhun ap Iorwerth has raised independence in his first meetings with Andy Burnham, but he has other priorities – a change to the funding model for Wales and devolution of more powers, such as policing. On the latter, Mr Burnham hasn’t sounded entirely unsympathetic to his request.
