O’Neill Hails ‘Seismic Shift’ as SNP and Plaid Wins Spur Nationalist Talks

Overview

• O’Neill, speaking at Stormont on Monday, said she has discussed working on shared goals toward independence with Scotland’s John Swinney and Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth, who is set to become Welsh first minister.
• She described the results as a “seismic political shift” and noted it is the first time nationalist first ministers lead Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told MLAs that Northern Ireland needs leaders for Northern Ireland, stressing the co-equal First Minister and deputy First Minister roles and her commitment to the union.
• DUP leader Gavin Robinson said votes in Scotland and Wales were protests against Keir Starmer rather than against the union, claimed unionist parties won more votes overall, and forecast a unionist win in Northern Ireland next year.
• SDLP leader Claire Hanna urged a focus on delivery over symbolism, and Alliance leader Naomi Long pressed for reform of first-past-the-post, the voting system where the top candidate wins the seat.