A LONG-RUNNING row between the Welsh and UK Governments around claims the EU Withdrawal Bill will result in a loss of devolved powers has come to an end.

The UK Government has agreed to table a series of amendments to the bill to alleviate the Welsh Government's concerns around the potential loss of devolved power.

But Plaid Cymru has claimed the Welsh Government has "sold Wales down the river".

Among the amendments are for all devolved areas to remain devolved, with some powers temporarily being held by Westminster in order to develop new UK-wide rules replacing EU law. And the UK Government will be unable to hold onto devolved powers without consent of the Welsh Government.

This means the continuity bill agreed by the Welsh Assembly last month, which would have kept EU law in place in devolved areas post-Brexit, will be withdrawn and the Welsh Government will instead ask AMs to pass a Legislative Consent Motion, giving its approval to the UK Government to pass the Brexit Bill.

Finance secretary Mark Drakeford, who has been leading on negotiations with the UK Government, described the agreement as "a deal we can work with which has required compromise on both sides".

"Our aim throughout these talks has been to protect devolution and make sure laws and policy in areas which are currently devolved remain devolved and this we have achieved," he said.

“We have always recognised the need for UK-wide frameworks where the EU rule book will no longer apply.

“The original draft bill meant powers already devolved would have been clawed back by the UK Government post-Brexit and only ministers in London would have had the right to decide if and when they were passed back to the devolved parliaments.

"This was totally unacceptable and went against the will of the people of Wales who voted for devolution in two referendums.

“We are now in a different place. London has changed its position so that all powers and policy areas rest in Cardiff , unless specified to be temporarily held by the UK Government. These will be areas where we all agree common, UK-wide rules are needed for a functioning UK internal market.

“London's willingness to listen to our concerns and enter serious negotiations has been welcome. In a devolved UK the respective governments need to deal with each other as equals and this agreement is a step in the right direction. This approach must now continue as we prepare for leaving the EU and the next phase of talks with Brussels.

“Make no mistake - the Welsh Government will continue to make sure Wales’ voice is heard loud and clear so we can secure a Brexit that protects devolution, jobs and our economy.”

UK Cabinet Office minister David Lidington welcomed the agreement, calling it "a significant achievement that will provide legal certainty, increase the powers of the devolved governments and also respect the devolution settlements".

But Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has slammed the agreement.

"By capitulating to Westminster on the EU Withdrawal Bill, the Labour government is selling Wales down the river," she said.

"This is a bare-faced Westminster power grab which undermines the will of the people of Wales who voted for more powers in two referendums.

"By doing a backroom deal with the Tories in the UK Government, Labour Welsh ministers are yet again reminding us of Labour's belief that Westminster is superior to Wales.

"While Labour capitulates, Plaid Cymru will keep challenging this Westminster power grab and protecting Welsh democracy every step of the way."

Welsh Conservative AM David Melding welcomed the agreement.

“This is proof of what can be achieved when politicians engage constructively and work in the national interest rather than the party interest," he said.

“It will provide legal certainty to all sides, whilst increasing the powers of the devolved administrations and respecting the devolved settlement.

“Above all, we can now move forward to the agreement of UK frameworks in certain key areas, to protect the integrity of the UK internal market.

“Thankfully, the Welsh Government’s bogus bill is now consigned to the dustbin and we can only hope that today’s agreement marks the start of a more constructive period in relations between the two governments."