Brussels has launched its own version of Project Fear by suggesting British workers will be at a higher risk of cancer as a result of Brexit.

A European Commission briefing paper claims the UK could dilute health and safety laws in an attempt to “lower production costs”, which would result in “higher exposure to chemicals and carcinogens”.

David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, is irritated by the false claims and on Tuesday rubbished the idea that post-Brexit Britain will be a “dystopian” world akin to the Mad Max films.

Instead, Britain wants to create a “race to the top” in quality and standards that will create “trust” in a future trading relationship and ensure that trade is “as frictionless as possible”.

Mr Davis's intevention is the second of six “road to Brexit” speeches by members of the Cabinet which began with Theresa May’s address to a security conference in Munich last week.