Interministerial Standing Committee Meeting Communiqué - 17 February 2026
Updated 9 March 2026
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The Interministerial Standing Committee (IMSC) met for the eleventh time on 17 February 2026 via video conference. The meeting was chaired by the UK Government Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, the Rt Hon Darren Jones MP.
The other attending ministers were:
From the Northern Ireland Executive: First Minister, Michelle O’Neill MLA; and deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly MLA.
From the Scottish Government: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes MSP.
From the Welsh Government: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS.
The Committee noted the upcoming elections in Scotland and Wales and discussed ongoing joint work to ensure that electoral processes and election candidates in all parts of the UK are safeguarded from ever-changing physical and digital security threats, and illegal practices.
The Committee discussed the preparation of government responses to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2ABC report, published in November 2025, which examined core administrative and political decision-making across the four nations during the pandemic.
A planned agenda item on legislative consent and development of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Sewel Convention was not discussed due to time constraints. Joint work to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the Sewel Convention is ongoing.
The IMSC will meet again in summer / early autumn 2026. The Northern Ireland Executive is scheduled to chair the next meeting.