Swinney keen to work with fellow nationalist devolved leaders in UK

"John Swinney has said he plans to work with the nationalist first ministers in Wales and Northern Ireland in a coordinated opposition to Labour's policies on the cost of living and UK government spending. The Scottish National party leader said he had spoken to Michelle O'Neill, the Sinn Fein first minister of Northern Ireland, on Friday night after she had called to congratulate him on his party's emphatic victory in the Holyrood elections. Swinney, who will be sworn in as Scotland's first minister next week, said he expected Plaid Cymru's leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, to be appointed first minister of Wales after winning the Senedd elections for the first time on Thursday."

"He said he looked forward to making sure our respective countries' voices are heard loud and clear in the UK. O'Neill, who has to work jointly with the Democratic Unionist party in Stormont, so has limits to her authority, had made clear her enthusiasm for all three nationalist-led governments working in concert, Swinney added. That alliance would take shape against a background of increased political conflict in Holyrood and the Senedd with the arrival of Reform UK, now in second place in both parliaments, as well as Swinney's efforts to press for a second Scottish independence referendum."

"To the shock of other Holyrood leaders, Reform came joint second on Thursday with Scottish Labour, both winning 17 seats. That will give Reform's Scottish leader, Malcolm Offord, the right to ask the opening questions at first minister's questions, while Reform could get committee convenership posts. Swinney said the three leaders were likely to challenge the UK government's increasing use of the Internal Markets Act, a measure designed to harmonise the UK's internal trade and business regulations post-Brexit, to impose policies over the heads of the three devolved administrations."

"He said: Believe you me, that causes fury in all devolved governments, and perhaps us all working in"

John Swinney said he will work with nationalist first ministers in Wales and Northern Ireland to coordinate opposition to Labour policies on the cost of living and UK government spending. He spoke with Michelle O’Neill after her congratulation following the Holyrood election victory, and he expects Rhun ap Iorwerth to become first minister of Wales after Plaid Cymru’s Senedd win. Swinney said the nationalist-led governments will ensure their voices are heard in the UK. He noted increased political conflict in Holyrood and the Senedd due to Reform UK’s rise and his push for a second Scottish independence referendum. He said the three leaders will likely challenge the UK government’s use of the Internal Markets Act to impose policies over devolved administrations.

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