Tories insist Wales will be represented in Brexit talks

Theresa May says she'll consult Carwyn Jones but won't give him a direct rôle Credit: ITV News WAles

The fallout has continued from the Prime Minister's rejection of calls for a direct rôle for the Welsh Government in Brexit talks. She made her comments in a speech to the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. You can read more byclicking here, including an initial reaction from the Welsh Government which maintains that it should have 'a seat at the table' and an angrier response from Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood who called it 'an affront to democracy.'

I'll be getting a fuller response from the First Minister later and will update this article subsequently. I'll also put it to the Prime Minister tomorrow. You can see what she said to BBC Wales' David Cornock here.

'Complete rubbish'

However, others are already dismissing the criticism. The Welsh Conservative leader described Plaid's 'affront to democracy' claim as 'complete rubbish.' He went on to tell me that,

A senior UK Government figure echoed those sentiments saying that the devolved settlement means that it's 'entirely proper' that Theresa May's government alone conducts the negotiations. They told me that Wales will be 'represented fully' by the UK Government and that the Welsh Government will be 'properly consulted.'

There's been a strong reaction to the developments on social media, mostly, it should be noted, from Plaid Cymru supporters. But the former Labour adviser, David Taylor, tweeted that it should persuade the First Minister to change his focus.

UPDATE 1430

Carwyn Jones has given his reaction to the row to my colleague Lynn Courtney. You can watch her interview with him by clicking here but his critics will accuse him of softening his stance. Asked if he's being denied a direct rôle in the talks, he says 'I don't interpret it that way and I'm not inclined to be generous to the Conservatives.'

But he says Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have to be involved in the process and to sign up to any final agreement. And he says there's a lack of clarity about what that agreement could be. 'If they're in the driving seat,' he says, 'they've got to drive.'