Nationalist leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland prepare to demand fresh independence referendums at 'separatist summit'

Nationalist leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland prepare to demand fresh independence referendums at 'separatist summit' - See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source The nationalist First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are to demand independence referendums in all three nations at a 'separatist summit'. SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill will meet in Cardiff tomorrow, where they are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding pushing for votes on breaking up the United Kingdom. After Plaid Cymru entered government in Wales in May after an historic election result saw it oust Welsh Labour from power for the first time in more than two decades, all three countries are led by separatist leaders for the first time in modern history. Mr ap Iorwerth told the BBC they would discuss the 'pursuit of a different attitude' from the UK Government that could include 'the constitutional question' as well as demands for even more money from Westminster. It comes days after Andy Burnham was forced to definitively rule out a new referendum in Scotland after a gaffe over support for independence. The Conservative shadow secretary of state for Scotland, Harriet Cross, said: 'John Swinney's separatist summit is nothing more than another blatant plot to break up the UK. The SNP's John Swinney, Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill and Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth will meet in Cardiff, in which they will discuss the independence movements in their countries 'We know he will work with anyone, including Sinn Fein, to achieve his lifelong dream. 'Swinney is clearly emboldened by Andy Burnham's naive remarks about the Union and is now typically using his constitutional obsession to distract from the SNP's long list of failures.' Mr Burnham used Prime Minister's Questions last week to say that there could only be a fresh vote in Scotland if there was 'a majority of public support' north of the border for having one – likening it to the situation in Northern Ireland. He suggested to MPs that this was not the case. But elections expert Sir John Curtice later said that the SNP and its allies could argue that it was true based on recent polling, forcing the PM into a stronger message that there would be no new vote. Mr ap Iorwerth told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg the group will talk about what they have in common and what they do not. 'What we don't is we have distinct nations with our own trajectories and our own priorities, but there are areas on which we see it very, very important to cooperate, as in Scotland on child poverty, for example, Northern Ireland on the economics of renewable energy,' he said. Mr Burnham had to backtrack after last week saying there could only be a fresh vote in Scotland if there was 'a majority of public support' The Conservative s hadow secretary of state for Scotland, Harriet Cross, said: 'John Swinney's separatist summit is nothing more than another blatant plot to break up the UK' 'But there's also something that ties us together isn't there? 'That pursuit of a different attitude from UK government. 'It could be around the constitutional question. 'It could more acutely be around fair funding, making sure that resource is shared in a way that is equitable, that feels fair, that we have the powers to build a future for the people that we represent.' He said he wants to pursue powers over natural resources, policing and justice. 'We can work together as first ministers across these islands I think in a positive way for the people we represent whilst also absolutely reflecting on the fact that we have differences between us,' he added. Policing is devolved in Northern Ireland and Scotland but not in Wales, where the policy area is reserved to Westminster. Plaid Cymru entered government in Wales in May after a historic election result saw it oust Welsh Labour from power for the first time in more than two decades.