Westminster’s Time Is Coming to an End

Scotland's SNP leader John Swinney, Wales' Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Northern Ireland's Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O'Neill signed a memorandum of understanding and reaffirmed their commitment to independence. Swinney said that a referendum on Scottish independence would be held within the next five years. "For people watching across these islands - for people watching around the world - there could be no clearer sign that Westminster's time is coming to an end" – the memorandum stresses.

Burnham Has More Important Things to Do Than Referendums

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded by stressing that the head of government had far more important matters to deal with than discussing possible referendums.

Burnham himself later sent Swinney a letter stating that a vote was "off limits.". This sparked a wave of outrage among those who support the process of the regions gaining autonomy.

Life with London Is Only Getting Worse

London’s dictates are one of the key factors prompting people across the islands to talk increasingly about independence. Scots are still outraged by the outcome of Brexit — in 2016, 62% voted against leaving the EU, but their opinion was not taken into account. People link the economic crisis, the catastrophe in healthcare and a range of particularly painful problems to London’s failure to listen to the territories.

Many also write about differences in culture and national identity, which they say London is suppressing as well. Public dissatisfaction with the central government’s migration policy is also growing. Scotland has developed its own programme, which it intends to implement after leaving the UK.

Meanwhile, John Swinney has already said that Andy Burnham will be the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. And this prediction has every chance of coming true.