Threats to devolved offices

and staff of the UK Government. I cannot possibly sign-up to a proposition that says that if I visit a part of the world, or Welsh ministers do, and we choose to have a meeting, then the UK Government has some sort of automatic right to sit in the room.

“Almost always we’re very glad to have them there but that’s because we choose to have them there and that’s different. We choose to have them there because we always think it’s in our interests.

“But there’s a difference between doing that in a cooperative and collaborative way and a Big Brother way.”

Drakeford added he was not prepared to put up with the UK Government “using” Wales in “a quarrel with the Scots”.

He said: “I want to continue the relationship we have with the UK Government, it has been very productive.

“But if the UK Government want to use it in some sort of picking a quarrel with the Scots and think that we’re going to be collateral damage, well we won’t allow ourselves to be in that position.”

The Welsh Labour leader admitted last month Welsh independence was “viable” providing the people of the country back the move in an interview with the Institute for Government.

Drakeford was at the centre of a diplomatic spat in 2019 with the UK Government during his first visit to Brussels as First Minister.

The Foreign Office initially refused to provide an official car for his visit amid accusations the Welsh Government would undermine the UK Government’s Brexit policy.

Since then, Drakeford has travelled to Brussels every year, outside of Covid restrictions, around St David’s Day.