Sinn Fein has pledged to assist the SNP in what it describes as breaking the shackles of Westminster rule, following John Swinney's statement that he would enjoy collaborating on Scottish independence. Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein's First Minister of Northern Ireland, asserted that victories for the SNP and Plaid Cymru in May's election would constitute a seismic moment, highlighting a crack in the Union.
This support emerged after Mr Swinney revealed plans to work with Sinn Fein—which has historical links to IRA terrorism—and Plaid Cymru to irreversibly change the dynamics of the UK. Polls indicate that next month's election could see separatist parties triumph in Scotland and Wales, with Sinn Fein already in power in Northern Ireland.
Cross-party collaboration for independence
Sinn Fein MP John Finucane stated on X: 'Sinn Fein will work with all those parties who share the desire and pursuit of independence, including those in Scotland and Wales who want to break the shackles of Westminster rule.' Ms O'Neill told Northern Ireland's Cool FM News: 'There is a crack in terms of the Union and the disunited kingdom is very much on show. We could, in the next number of weeks, have a very historic and seismic moment.'
Echoing her sentiment, the SNP remarked that three nationalist leaders would represent an absolutely seismic moment, demonstrating to the world that Westminster's time is up.
Backlash over cooperation with Sinn Fein
Former Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw condemned the collaboration, stating: 'Swinney's shameful overtures—which Sinn Fein have seized upon—demonstrate loud and clear that securing a referendum will be his only focus if he secures a majority on May 7.' Mr Swinney has faced growing backlash over what critics call a beyond-the-pale bid to work with Sinn Fein on breaking up Britain.
Mr Carlaw, who was present at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton when an IRA bomb exploded at the Grand Hotel in 1984, led the criticism. He said earlier this week: 'It's clear that no organisation or party is beyond the pale when it comes to pushing his independence obsession. I was at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton when the IRA tried to assassinate the British government at the height of the Troubles. The thought of John Swinney working in tandem with the political wing of that terrorist organisation turns my blood cold. Yes, time has passed and Northern Ireland has changed, but it's widely known that senior figures in Sinn Fein have blood on their hands. Sadly, the SNP have a blind spot when it comes to independence and no ally is too toxic in pursuing their obsession. John Swinney should be ashamed of himself.'
Sinn Fein, led by Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill, seeks a referendum on a united Ireland by 2030. Ms O'Neill has previously met Mr Swinney's predecessors, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, for talks at Bute House.
