The Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser flatly denied reports a separate Welsh legal jurisdiction is off the agenda, telling the Senedd: “I said no such thing.”

Julie James, who is counsel general, said a legal jurisdiction for Wales is inevitably developing and “at some point in the future somebody’s going to have to acknowledge that it exists – but it exists whether you acknowledge it or not”.

Adam Price, Plaid Cymru’s shadow counsel general, had expressed concerns about any prospect of a separate Welsh legal jurisdiction being “kicked firmly into touch”.

Ms James gave a speech at a conference in Bangor and a Law Society Gazette report suggested she was "unequivocal" in stating separation was off the agenda - a claim Ms James denied.