Davis urged to includeWelsh and Scottish governments as he prepares for crunch Brexit talks

THE Welsh and Scottish governments have united to reinforce calls for a seat at the table during the Brexit negotiations, which are due to start on Monday despite the delay to the Queen’s Speech.

The two administrations have written to UK Brexit Secretary David Davis, urging him to “re-set” the work of the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations.

Welsh Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford and Scotland’s Brexit Minister, Mike Russell, said it is vital that agreement is reached on how the devolved administrations will be represented in the negotiations.

“As you will know, both the Scottish and Welsh governments believe that we should be at the table when devolved issues are discussed and in the room for other sessions,” the letter said.

It urges Mr Davis to resume meetings of the committee “at the earliest possibility” as well as agree a future programme of regular sessions timed to fit in with the negotiating meetings agreed with the European Commission.

The letter also calls for a clear agenda that would allow devolved administrations to consider relevant issues arising from the negotiations, for example, the replacement of EU funding schemes such as the Common Agricultural Policy, future immigration policy and analysis of the economic impact of scenarios including no deal and of reverting to

World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, leaving the single market and withdrawing from the Customs Union.

It said: “It is essential that the UK government trust the devolved administrations to respect the confidential inter-governmental space that the JMC should fill.

“We want to use JMC (EN) as a forum in which we can have meaningful discussions of key issues, aimed at reaching agreement rather than an opportunity to rehearse well-established public positions. Unfortunately, this was not our experience of the way the committee operated prior to the election.”

The letter also said ministers are “deeply concerned” about a “lack of engagement” on the proposed Great Repeal Bill to transpose EU legislation into UK law.

David Davis is due to travel to the Belgian capital on Monday for talks with the European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier.

The expected June 19 start date for talks had been in doubt following the General Election, which saw Mrs May lose her majority in the Commons. On Monday the European Commission insisted it was “fully prepared and ready for the negotiations to start” – indicating that any delay was on the British side.

In a hint at a softer approach, Mr Davis said “we will start down this process” by focusing on the divorce proceedings from the EU before moving on to trade. Brussels has insisted talks taking in issues including the fee the UK will have to pay to sever its ties must make progress before any discussion on a trade agreement could begin. The UK government wants talks to take place in parallel during Brexit but both sides have made finding a solution to the issue of citizens’ rights a priority.