At first glance today’s European Union Brexit negotiating guidelines make bleak reading for Theresa May and the desire she set out last week for an “unprecedented” partnership with the bloc.

Over a few short pages the EU dismisses out of hand many of the proposals the prime minister put forward in her speech last week of a future relationship.

On trade the EU is happy for a deal that covers goods — in which it has a surplus — but warns that co-operation covering services will be curtailed by Mrs May’s own red lines.

The document also explicitly rejects the prime minister’s plan for Britain to remain part of EU regulations covering medicine, aviation and chemicals. Britain after Brexit, it says, will be a