John Swinney faces backlash over comments while leaders Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald sign an independence memo, coinciding with Catherine Connolly's visit to Scotland.

The entities involved

• John Swinney →

  Scottish politician (born 1964)

  • Records published drug death statistics in Scotland, showing the rate is higher than in England, alongside a political challenge to John Swinney.Mon 08:54
  • Douglas Alexander urged John Swinney to prioritize the drug crisis in Scotland.Mon 08:54
• Michelle O'Neill →

  First Minister of Northern Ireland since 2024

  • Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill called for government intervention after the Parades Commission permitted a march in Portadown.Mon 10:23
  • Michelle O'Neill joined protesters in Portadown while Chris Bryant urged compromise to resolve the stand-off.Sun 23:59
• Mary Lou McDonald →

  Irish politician, President of Sinn Féin (born 1969)

  • A high court ruling authorized a parade through Portadown, with Mary Lou McDonald serving as party president.Sun 13:22

Related events

• John Swinney advocated for Northern Ireland independence and promoted this goal with Sinn Féin, facing criticism from peers like Russell Findlay and Harriet Cross.Sep 14
• John Swinney is actively pursuing a referendum bid for Scotland, seeking support from Sinn Féin and utilizing the platform of the Scottish Parliament.Sep 12
• John Swinney and Mary Lou McDonald hosted a separatist summit in Cardiff and co-signed a declaration with a Sinn Fein leader.Sep 15
• Michelle O'Neill announced a memorandum of understanding on independence, expressing a desire to break away from the UK and backing a united Ireland.Sep 14
• John Swinney signed a memorandum of understanding with Michelle O'Neill on September 15th.Sep 15