Sir Andrew Witty, head of GlaxoSmithKline, and other industry leaders have called for the preservation of free movement of goods and scientific talent post-Brexit

Britain’s £60-billion pharmaceutical and life sciences industry shelved a report calling for the government to pursue a “soft Brexit” strategy after being warned by ministers that it was too pro-EU.

Sir Andrew Witty, head of GlaxoSmithKline, and other industry leaders met ministers from the Brexit department this month. They presented the findings of a two-month consultation calling for the preservation of free movement of goods and scientific talent post-Brexit and a “common regulatory framework” for the drugs industry. But the document, which was due to be published, has now been withheld after ministers made clear that the demands were “not what people voted for”.

One source said that the government was “not impressed with the report” and had made its reservations clear. As a result,