Conventional political wisdom has it that if Emmanuel Macron enters the Élysée Palace next month he will make Brexit negotiations tougher for the newly elected incumbent of Downing Street.

Mr Macron is an avowed EU enthusiast and has been consistent in his views on the issue. In September, before he entered the presidential race, he was lamenting the British decision to leave, saying that no French government should give the UK a good deal for fear of “killing” the EU. More recently, during a campaign stop in London, he said that the UK should expect no “caveat or waiver” to EU rules.

However, those who know him well say there is reason to think that a President Macron would take a softer approach to Brexit