Japan has issued a stark warning to the Government over the risks Brexit poses to the county’s businesses operating in the UK.

Speaking after a Downing Street summit with 19 leaders from Japan’s biggest businesses with operations in the UK, the country’s ambassador raised the prospect of them pulling out of Britain.

"If there is no profitability of continuing operations in the UK - not Japanese only - then no private company can continue operations. It is as simple as that," Ambassador Koji Tsuruoka said when asked whether Japanese companies could leave if no trade deal is agreed.

"This is all high stakes that all of us, I think, need to keep in mind," the ambassador said, speaking outside No 10 following the meeting attended by Prime Minister Theresa May and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox.