Theresa May promises Brexit meetings with national leaders as she faces a “constitutional crisis” warning
Theresa May will today reveal a new forum for the UK government to meet with devolved administrations over Brexit, even as a new report warns she is facing a constitutional crisis.
Leaders of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments will be invited to join a new committee led by Brexit secretary David Davis.
May will unveil the plans at tomorrow's meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee, which brings together the national leaders. It is the first time the JMC has been convened for more than two years.
Davis' new forum would be established as a Brexit-focused offshoot of the JMC, and would be attended by nominees put forward by devolved governments.
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It will meet at least twice before Christmas, and will be branded as a direct line to the government ahead of the triggering of Article 50 in March.
Announcing the plans, May said: "The country is facing a negotiation of tremendous importance and it is imperative that the devolved administrations play their part in making it work.
"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."
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It comes as a report from the Institute for Government (IfG) warns that Britain is facing a constitutional crisis if its four nations cannot reach consensus on Brexit.
As May and Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon continue to clash over the prospects of a second independence referendum, the think tank said the devolved administrations cannot be treated "like any other lobby or interest group", while they must also accept that Westminster will have the final say.
IfG fellow Akash Paun said: "As with a dog walking on its hind legs, we should be impressed if the four governments manage to work together at all. But when it comes to Brexit, the stakes are high.
"If the dog topples over after a few tentative steps, and consensus cannot be reached, the result could be a constitutional crisis."