Emmanuel Macron wants to stop British businesses from being able to bid for public contracts within the European Union post-Brexit, according to reports.

The newly elected French president set out plans in his manifesto to introduce a “Buy European Act” which would effectively restrict the ability of companies operating mainly outside of the bloc to access public procurement deals.

If such a proposal was adopted by the EU it would hit British-based firms like BT and Serco hard, according to The Times.