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May holds Brexit talks with devolved nations May holds Brexit talks with devolved nations
(35 minutes later)
The prime minister has offered the leaders of the three devolved governments a "direct line" to Brexit Secretary David Davis ahead of the UK's negotiations to leave the EU.The prime minister has offered the leaders of the three devolved governments a "direct line" to Brexit Secretary David Davis ahead of the UK's negotiations to leave the EU.
Theresa May held talks with the first ministers at Downing Street.Theresa May held talks with the first ministers at Downing Street.
The Scottish and Welsh leaders want the devolved legislatures and Parliament all to vote on Mr Davis's approach.The Scottish and Welsh leaders want the devolved legislatures and Parliament all to vote on Mr Davis's approach.
Mrs May says she is "ready to listen" to their ideas but the final position must work for the whole of the UK.Mrs May says she is "ready to listen" to their ideas but the final position must work for the whole of the UK.
The issue was discussed as the joint ministerial committee, bringing together the top politicians from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, met for the first time since 2014. The issue was discussed as the joint ministerial committee - bringing together Mrs May, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and Northern Ireland First Minister Alene Foster - met for the first time since 2014.
Downing Street said leaders of the devolved administrations must not "undermine" Brexit negotiations.
Asked about calls for different parts of the UK to be able to opt in or out of the single market, the prime minister's official spokeswoman said a united UK negotiating position was "vital to protect the UK's interest as a whole".
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mrs May had "delivered a fairly bold 'Non'" to demands for devolved legislatures to have a greater say in Brexit. She did not want "separate deals in separate parts of the UK" because this risked "confusing" issues and "undermining her negotiating strategy", he added.BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mrs May had "delivered a fairly bold 'Non'" to demands for devolved legislatures to have a greater say in Brexit. She did not want "separate deals in separate parts of the UK" because this risked "confusing" issues and "undermining her negotiating strategy", he added.
But, with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issuing calls for a second referendum on Scottish independence, Mrs May realised what an "awfully big" situation the UK faced, he added, saying: "If she gets it wrong, she risks being the prime minister who took Britain out of the EU but also risks breaking up the United Kingdom." But Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster, speaking in Downing Street after the meeting, said: "It's important that we are involved in the heart of that process."
Before the meeting Michael Russell, Scotland's Brexit minister, said it was "pretty poor" that it had taken four months since June's referendum for it to be held.
Scotland had an "importantly distinctive position" that needed to be respected, he said. "For example, a report yesterday indicated we will be short of 100,000 people to work in our economy unless we have freedom of movement. These are really important issues for Scotland," Mr Russell told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland.
"We didn't ask to be in this position. It's extremely important we say what we think the position is and it's extremely important that's listened to."
The minister said there was a lot of flexibility in how the EU made arrangements with other countries in Europe and said comparable flexibility needed to be shown from the UK government.
It would be "very strange" if special arrangements were made for the financial sector but not for the people in Scotland who backed Remain, he added.
Speaking ahead of her talks with Ms Sturgeon, Welsh counterpart Carwyn Jones and Northern Ireland's Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness, Mrs May said: "The great union between us has been the cornerstone of our prosperity in the past - and it is absolutely vital to our success in the future.
"The country is facing a negotiation of tremendous importance and it is imperative that the devolved administrations play their part in making it work."
Downing Street is proposing that Mr Davis chair a new forum bringing together representatives from the devolved nations before the prime minister triggers Article 50, and formally starts the two-year Brexit process by March next year.
Mrs May said: "The new forum I am offering will be the chance for them all to put forward their proposals on how to seize the opportunities presented by Brexit and deliver the democratic decision expressed by the people of the UK."
Constitutional crisis warning
Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU in the referendum last June, while Wales, like England, voted to leave.Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU in the referendum last June, while Wales, like England, voted to leave.
With Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issuing calls for a second referendum on Scottish independence, Mrs May realised what an "awfully big" situation the UK faced, Norman Smith said, adding: "If she gets it wrong, she risks being the prime minister who took Britain out of the EU but also risks breaking up the United Kingdom."
Before the meeting Michael Russell, Scotland's Brexit minister, said Scotland had an "importantly distinctive position" that needed to be respected, he said. "We didn't ask to be in this position," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland. "It's extremely important we say what we think the position is and it's extremely important that's listened to."
He said there was a lot of flexibility in how the EU made arrangements with other countries in Europe and said comparable flexibility needed to be shown from the UK government.
Downing Street is proposing that Mr Davis chair a new forum bringing together representatives from the devolved nations before the prime minister triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, formally starting the two-year Brexit process, by the end of March next year.
Mrs May said: "The new forum I am offering will be the chance for them all to put forward their proposals on how to seize the opportunities presented by Brexit and deliver the democratic decision expressed by the people of the UK."
But Mr Jones and Ms Sturgeon have both called for votes on the Brexit strategy, saying Article 50 should not be triggered until there is an agreed approach.But Mr Jones and Ms Sturgeon have both called for votes on the Brexit strategy, saying Article 50 should not be triggered until there is an agreed approach.
Ms Sturgeon has also said she wants to be able to call a second referendum on independence if the UK government does not protect Scotland's links with the EU.Ms Sturgeon has also said she wants to be able to call a second referendum on independence if the UK government does not protect Scotland's links with the EU.
The two leaders have stressed their desire to see continued participation in the EU single market - a situation that could be at risk if the UK pursued a so-called "hard" approach to Brexit.The two leaders have stressed their desire to see continued participation in the EU single market - a situation that could be at risk if the UK pursued a so-called "hard" approach to Brexit.
However, Downing Street says the prime minister is expected to tell the leaders that, contrary to some speculation, no final decisions have been taken on her approach "and that how the UK leaves the EU will not boil down to a binary choice".However, Downing Street says the prime minister is expected to tell the leaders that, contrary to some speculation, no final decisions have been taken on her approach "and that how the UK leaves the EU will not boil down to a binary choice".
The talks come as a leading think tank warns the UK faces a "full-blown constitutional crisis" unless all nations of the UK agree on "core planks" of the government's approach to Brexit.The talks come as a leading think tank warns the UK faces a "full-blown constitutional crisis" unless all nations of the UK agree on "core planks" of the government's approach to Brexit.
The Institute for Government warned imposing a Brexit settlement on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may be legally possible but "if it proves impossible to find consensus... the result may be a serious breakdown in relations between the four governments (and nations) of the UK". The Institute for Government warned imposing a settlement on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may be legally possible but "if it proves impossible to find consensus... the result may be a serious breakdown in relations between the four governments (and nations) of the UK".