Public confidence in the Brexit negotiations and Theresa May’s ability to strike a good deal with the EU has fallen to the lowest it has ever been, a new poll has revealed.

For the first time in over a year an opinion tracker has found that more people believe the UK will be worse off as a result of the vote to leave than better, amid fears that key talks have stalled.

David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, will visit Rome today in a bid to win support to start talks with the EU about post-Brexit trade, but the research shows the British people fear this will not be enough.

Talks were due to begin in December but EU sources have cast doubt on this timetable.

Mr Davis will travel to Brussels on Friday as part of a new round of negotiations during which the UK team will hope for progress on what the deal could look like.