Luxembourg’s prime minister praised his outgoing counterpart Theresa May, insisting she was left with a “really difficult job”. Mr Bettel declared that the 585-page withdrawal agreement struck between Mrs May and the EU will not be renegotiated when her replacement takes the keys to No.10. Speaking at a press conference alongside Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, Mr Bettel said the EU is in a “waiting mode to find out what is going to happen in Westminster”.

The Luxembourg leader added: “As you know, we have signed an agreement with Theresa May… She had a really difficult job, but she did the best possible agreement and this won’t change now there is a new prime minister.

“The deal is not with the prime minister – the deal has been agreed with the government, with the UK and with the institutions.”

Mr Barclay said the new Tory leader will use their new role to “look at the relationship and look at how we address the difficulties of passing legislation through Parliament”.

He added: “We have to recognise that the deal has failed three times and therefore once a new prime minister is in place, it will be important to continue the dialogue because ultimately what matters is getting onto the future relationship.”

The Brexit Secretary said the UK and EU must strike a “constructive, positive future relationship” that takes into account their “shared values and challenges”.

EU chiefs have dug in today as they prepare for the likelihood of Boris Johnson becoming prime minister, promising to renegotiate Mrs May’s deal.

Michael Roth, Germany’s Europe minister, told reporters: “I don’t see any chances to renegotiate the package.

“The withdrawal agreement is the withdrawal agreement and I don’t see any appetite to start new negotiations within the EU.

“I don’t want to speculate but the message of the EU is crystal clear on this issue.”

Swedish Europe minister Hans Dahlgren only reinforced Brussels’ stance, insisting: “Our position is clear, this withdrawal agreement is the firm agreement that we stick to.”

He signalled that any talks between the next prime minister and EU negotiators would have to focus on the political declaration, which sets out guidelines for the future UK-EU relationship.

“When it comes to the future, the political declaration, we can always accommodate and have a discussion but on the terms of the withdrawal that’s where we stand,” Mr Dhalgren said.

“The withdrawal agreement includes the backstop and this is something that we hope will never have to be used but in the eventuality that arrangements cannot be done before this is what’s included and that’s where we stand.”

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