Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald will meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth in Cardiff tomorrow
The First Ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will discuss the “pursuit of a different attitude” from the UK Government when they meet on Monday, Rhun ap Iorwerth has said.
The Plaid Cymru leader will speak to Scottish National Party leader John Swinney and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill in Cardiff about shared interests.
The trio will also discuss the future of independence for their respective countries.
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.
“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.
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