Mark Rutte said that the UK was not doing enough to prepare for a no-deal Brexit

One of Britain’s closest allies told Theresa May yesterday that she cannot expect to have the kind of unprecedented post-Brexit security partnership that she wants with the EU.

Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, backed the tough stance taken by EU Brexit negotiators despite a personal appeal by Mrs May for leaders to compromise.

The failure to win round the Dutch, who have traditionally been a staunch ally of the UK, underlined Mrs May’s isolation.

The EU’s other 27 leaders spent less than 15 minutes discussing Brexit yesterday and pointedly failed to discuss that latest British request.

“On the security co-operation we will work as closely as possible . . . but with the UK leaving things will not stay as they are,” Mr