Representative leaders from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (which, with England, comprise the four countries of the United Kingdom) signed a memorandum calling on the U.K. government to prepare for substantial constitutional change, coming at a time when growing political tensions are bringing added prominence to demands for independence and/or Irish reunification. The pact also marks the first time all three devolved governments have been led by figures from pro-independence or pro-unification parties, though the memorandum has no legal force.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government rejected the suggestion that the agreement signals an imminent breakup of the U.K., focusing instead on his stated priorities of economic and cost-of-living issues. Scotland’s John Swinney renewed his call for a definite independence referendum, while Northern Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill backed reunification and Wales’s Rhun ap Iorwerth stopped short of setting a timeline. The developments come also after renewed attention to Irish reunification following President Donald Trump’s statements that he would “love to see” a reunified Ireland. The three leaders’ cooperation could nevertheless increase pressure on Westminster by keeping questions about devolution, self-determination, and the future of the union on the political agenda.

Full report: United Kingdom’s unity threatened by pact between Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.