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Theresa May was given a blunt warning from a French statesman today that it was “pie in the sky” to expect free trade with Europe while curbing EU migration.

The dismissal of hope for a free trade deal after Brexit came from Pascal Lamy, a former head of the World Trade Organisation, as Mrs May was setting off to Paris for her first talks with President François Hollande.

Diplomats were braced for a bumpier meeting between Mrs May and the president at the Elysée Palace today than the cordial talks last night with German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Some thought Mr Hollande, who has yet to announce if he will seek re-election next year, was under pressure to avoid looking too friendly with a British leader when his ratings are poor.

However, he and Mrs May were set to forge a united front against terrorism following the Nice atrocity, stressing the importance of continued Anglo-French co-operation on security after Britain leaves the EU.

French hostility to Britain’s exit plans was summed up by Mr Lamy, a former chief of staff to Jacques Delors, the architect of EU federalism. “The UK will not have outside the EU the same easy access to EU single market. This is absolutely obvious,” he said. He predicted the first question to Mrs May from Mr Hollande would be: “What are you looking for?” He added that the idea of Norway-style access to the single market without free movement of labour and a hefty annual payment to EU funds was “pie in the sky”.

He also suggested that Europe would slap tariffs on British goods such as cheese, but would continue to enjoy free access to the British market. “There will be tariffs on British goods coming into Europe,” he said. “The question of what will be the UK tariff on European cheese is an open question. I’ve heard lots of people in the UK say we need no tariff on cheese whatsoever because we want to be free trade, free trade, free trade.”

Mr Lamy said the City of London would face a united front formed by the remaining 27 EU members, who would decide what regulations London-based banks and finance firms would have to comply with. “What’s clear is that the EU 27 will between themselves negotiate a position before negotiating with the UK,” he said.

Mrs May was pleased with her talks in Berlin, where Mrs Merkel agreed that British should not rush into starting the formal exit countdown this year.

The German chancellor said Britain should “take a moment”, but warned against leaving negotiations “up in the air”. Mrs May insisted that Germany would “remain a vital partner and a special friend for us” after Brexit.

Senior Labour MP Chris Leslie today called for a dedicated Commons select committee to hold Brexit Secretary David Davis to account.

“I don’t have enough confidence in the handful of ministers that have been appointed so far to grapple with this enormous priority now facing the country,” he wrote on PoliticsHome.