UK Government changes Brexit law without Welsh agreement

The UK government is pressing ahead with changes to its main Brexit law despite failing to secure the agreement of Welsh ministers who've described it as a 'power grab.'

UK ministers will today put forward amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill which it says will mean that 'the vast majority' of powers being brought back from the European Union 'will now transfer directly' to the devolved administrations.

But the Welsh and Scottish governments remain opposed to the Bill and are pushing through their own legislation to by-pass Westminster, claim the powers for themselves and force a constitutional clash.

Despite being set on courses certain to cause confrontation, ministers in Cardiff and London continue to say they're hopeful agreement can be reached.

Later this week, Carwyn Jones and his Scottish counterpart Nicola Sturgeon will meet Theresa May in an attempt to do just that.

But last week, another meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee ended without consensus and tensions rose further when the UK Government listed the 24 responsibilities it says can't go straight to Cardiff Bay.

Nearly all of them affect agriculture and the environment and include the crucial issue of farm subsidies.

The important power to decide state aid - financial help for businesses - is on a separate list of 12 powers that the UK government doesn't think are devolved at all but which the devolved governments want included.

It's possible that that new list, claimed by some to be a new category of disputed powers, could lead to a further flare-up even if agreement is reached on the 24.

The cabinet office minister David Lidington, who's been leading the negotiations for the UK Government, said today's move will 'provide certainty' for businesses.

Plaid Cymru, which is working with Labour on a Continuity Bill to claim the disputed powers without the agreement of the UK Government, has urged the Welsh Government not to give in as talks continue.