Ministers from all UK governments meet in Cardiff to try to avoid post-Brexit breakdown

Ministers from the UK Government will meet their opposite numbers from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in Cardiff today, the first time since a Brexit row which could lead to a full-blown constitutional crisis.

Michael Gove will be at the talks to lead efforts to try to smooth over the division which was caused by votes on the law to implement Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.

That law passed all its parliamentary hurdles last week despite all three devolved institutions refusing to give it their consent.

Such consent motions are triggered when UK legislation affects devolved areas. They aren't legally binding on ministers in London but in the past have largely led to changes.

This time, however, ministers in London decided to enforce their legal right and override the views of the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies and the Scottish Parliament.

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay wrote to Wales' Brexit minister, Jeremy Miles saying that the UK Government would not normally ignore consent motions but that 'the circumstances of our departure from the European Union are specific, singular and exceptional.' He made similar assurances in the Commons chamber too.

Unlike the SNP Scottish Government, the Labour Welsh Government privately wants to avoid a constitutional clash with Westminster but can't ignore the fact that on one of the most important pieces of legislation in modern times, its views have been overridden.

So Welsh ministers will be looking to today's JMC meeting to see the assurances I mentioned earlier put into action. It'll require serious concessions from London and clear statements of intent from Michael Gove and other cabinet members.

Even then it might not be enough. The Scottish Government wants another independence referendum and believe recent events have only bolstered its arguments. In Northern Ireland too, Stormont has only recently reconvened and is smarting from having one of its first major decisions ignored.

The Brexit crisis may be over but the difficulties and divisions it caused are only just beginning to become clear.

Speaking before the meeting, Michael Gove was playing up the positive potential of the talks:

The First Minister says the talks are a chance for the UK Government to back up their warm words with actions.