Senior European diplomatic sources and EU experts have warned British negotiators against over-reading reports that Emmanuel Macron is preparing to soften EU opposition to the Chequers Brexit plan at next month’s EU leaders summit in Salzburg.

All sides moved to squash speculation that the French president would use his vision for a multi-speed Europe of ‘concentric circles’ to create a ‘dock’ for Britain after Brexit.

The French Embassy in London pointedly tweeted Mr Macron’s speech to the French diplomatic corps on Monday in which he ruled out the kind of ‘cherry-picked’ Brexit deal that Mrs May is seeking via the Chequers plan.

In that speech Mr Macron said that he wanted a strong relationship…