Theresa May to include Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in Brexit talks

Theresa May is to include Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the Brexit process.

The prime minister will offer the devolved nations a "direct line" to Brexit Secretary David Davis.

Mr Davis will chair a new forum bringing together representatives from Westminster, Holyrood, Cardiff Bay and Stormont for regular talks on the situation.

Monday will see the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) meet for the first time since Britain voted to leave the EU.

The devolved administrations are keen to secure continued participation in the single market and want to hold votes on Mrs May's approach before she triggers Article 50, formally beginning the Brexit process.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already demanded Scotland be an "equal partner" in Brexit negotiations.

Mrs May will also come under pressure from her Welsh counterpart Carwyn Jones and Northern Ireland's leader Arlene Foster at the Downing Street meeting.

Ahead of the talks, officials insisted Mrs May was "ready to listen to proposals" put forward by the first ministers.

She 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.

"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."

If the devolved governments agree, the new forum will hold their first meeting by the end of November and at least one more by Christmas before Article 50 is triggered by the end of March 2017.