Plaid Cymru - whose three MPs form a joint parliamentary party with the SNP six - appears equally reluctant to deal unless the UK government offers a massive transfer of powers from Westminster to Cardiff Bay.

BBC: Plan to axe MPs in disarray after House of Lords defeat

At the diplomatic level, Iran is due to resume talks with six world powers in Kazakhstan on 26 February after a gap of eight months.

BBC: Natanz uranium enrichment plant