The surge of populist and Eurosceptic parties in Italy's general election hands a bloody nose to Brussels and the EU which is widely blamed both for Italy's decade-long economic morass and the failure to control migration.

As Brexiteers like Nigel Farage were quick to note, many of Italy’s underlying concerns mirror those that caused the UK to vote to leave the EU - but it would be wrong to think that this 'victory' for anti-establishment, anti-euro sentiment will help the current Brexit negotiations. On the contrary.

The reality is that disaffection with Europe in Italy is likely to make the Brexit process harder, not easier, as the EU establishment digs in against a populist rebellion in one of its founding member states.

British calls for Brussels to take a pragmatic approach to Brexit have been met with an implacable determination to defend the European political construct and the single market that underpins it. The risk now is that Brussels redoubles its efforts.

Brexit was always going to be a blow to Europe, but the election of Donald Trump, the rise of autocracy in eastern Europe and the fragmentation of centrist democracies all across the EU has framed the UK vote to leave as an existential threat. This election result will deepen that sense of EU insecurity.