EU migrants will not be given preferential treatment after Brexit and the number coming to the UK will fall significantly under Government plans.

Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, on Monday unveiled plans at Cabinet for a crackdown on the number of low-skilled migrants coming to the UK after Britain leaves the EU.

The Cabinet reached a consensus on the plans despite objections from Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, and Greg Clark, the Business Secretary.

It came as the Prime Minister refused to allow any debate over calls by Cabinet ministers for her to consider a Canada-style trade deal with the EU following the outright rejection of her Chequers plan.

She insisted that Chequers remains the “only plan” which can avoid a hard Irish border, respect the result of the EU referendum and ensure there is “frictionless trade".

By refusing to allow Cabinet ministers to make the case for a Canada-style deal, Mrs May is risking a major row at next week's Conservative Party Conference.