John Swinney, the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has announced his intention to collaborate with fellow nationalist first ministers in Wales and Northern Ireland to present a coordinated opposition to Labour’s policies on the cost of living and UK government spending. Speaking in Edinburgh on Saturday, Swinney revealed that he had spoken with Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Féin first minister of Northern Ireland, who congratulated him on the SNP’s “emphatic” victory in the Holyrood elections.
Swinney’s Vision for Devolved Cooperation
Swinney, who will be sworn in as Scotland’s first minister next week, expressed his expectation that Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, would become first minister of Wales after his party’s historic win in the Senedd elections on Thursday. “I look forward to making sure our respective countries’ voices are heard loud and clear in the UK,” Swinney stated. He added that O’Neill, who must work jointly with the Democratic Unionist Party in Stormont, has shown enthusiasm for a unified approach among the three nationalist-led governments.
Challenges from Reform UK and Independence Push
This alliance emerges amid heightened political tensions in Holyrood and the Senedd, fueled by the rise of Reform UK, which now holds second place in both parliaments. Swinney is also pressing for a second Scottish independence referendum. Reform UK’s strong performance, winning 17 seats in Scotland, gives its leader, Malcolm Offord, the right to pose the opening questions at first minister’s questions and potentially secure committee convenerships.
Swinney indicated that the three leaders are likely to challenge the UK government’s use of the Internal Markets Act, a post-Brexit measure intended to harmonise internal trade and business regulations. He argued that this act is used to impose policies “over the heads” of devolved administrations. “Believe you me, that causes fury in all devolved governments,” Swinney said. “Perhaps us all working in concert with a shared agenda might get us somewhere on that.”
Shared Goals on Welfare and EU Rejoining
Swinney also highlighted previous campaigns by Scottish and Welsh Labour governments to lift the two-child benefit cap, noting that all three parties are clear about the merits of rejoining the EU to address the UK’s economic decline. “The UK is in a fundamentally different position, and the bit that’s got to catch up with this is Whitehall,” he said. “The sooner they do, the better.”
In a victory speech in Cardiff, Rhun ap Iorwerth echoed Swinney’s sentiments, hailing a “new beginning” for Wales. “It is a new beginning,” ap Iorwerth declared, “and I have no doubt that when we speak with a national voice as determined as we have seen in this election, no UK government, no UK prime minister, now or in the future, can cast Wales aside or turn a blind eye to our needs.”
Preparation and UK Government Response
The Guardian understands from Plaid Cymru sources that the SNP and Sinn Féin have already assisted the party in preparing for government in Cardiff. UK government sources have indicated they are unperturbed by the prospect of collaboration among the three parties. Speaking before the election, one source noted that having different parties in different administrations “is in the very nature of democracy” and has been normal since devolution.
Swinney confirmed he would table a draft bill next week calling for Holyrood to be granted powers to hold a second independence referendum. However, the document has no legal force because the Scotland Act 1998 prevents Holyrood from legislating on constitutional change. When asked about his mandate, given the SNP failed to secure an overall majority—which Swinney had previously described as a precondition—he argued that the addition of 14 Scottish Green Party MSPs gives Holyrood its largest pro-independence majority ever. Even so, Swinney avoided claiming this provides a cast-iron mandate.
Refusal to Collaborate with Reform
Swinney confirmed he will not collaborate with Reform UK beyond basic legal requirements. Malcolm Offord criticised this stance as “arrogant, petty and deeply undemocratic,” contradicting Swinney’s claims of favouring democracy and inclusion. Speaking in Glasgow, Offord asserted that his party would bring “a different level of scrutiny” to Holyrood, “especially if the SNP get into some sort of alliance with extremist Greens.” When asked to define extremist policies, Offord cited “legalising drugs, abolishing prisons, or having open borders.” In fact, the Scottish Greens advocate decriminalising illegal drug use, do not have a policy of abolishing prisons (though they favour community rehabilitation), and do not support open borders but seek an end to the hostile environment strategy.
