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Curry house chiefs who backed Leave in the 2016 European Union vote said they felt “let down” today after it emerged that EU migrants may be granted preferential access to the UK after Brexit.

Downing Street would not deny that ministers are considering a plan for EU citizens to leapfrog workers from elsewhere in sectors where skills are in short supply, as a concession to offer in trade negotiations with the EU.

But it drew bitter condemnation from leaders of the £4.3 billion curry industry who were lured into backing Vote Leave with promises that Brexit would make it easier to bring in top chefs from south Asia.

Enam Ali, founder of the British Curry Awards, said: “On many occasions we recall Boris Johnson and others say it was very important that we could bring in chefs from outside the EU because the market needed it. But now it seems as if nobody is entertaining the idea.”

Mitu Chowdhury, organising secretary of the Bangladesh Caterers Association, said: “We attended every single campaign meeting with Boris Johnson, Priti Patel and Michael Gove and they said that the British curry industry would be a first priority. We think we have been let down.”

Mr Chowdhury said granting preference to EU workers would “be a disaster” as curry houses could be pushed to the back of the queue for visas.

“Every day one or two more restaurants close down and in most cases it is because they cannot find the skilled staff,” he said.

Last week Brexit Secretary David Davis, a leading Leave campaigner, refused to rule out preferential treatment for EU citizens after Brexit.

Brexiteers outside the Government condemned the idea. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: “After Brexit, people from around the world should be treated equally.”

Mr Duncan Smith took part in a “save our curry houses” campaign during the referendum. Former cabinet minister Ms Patel also implied that Brexit would allow restaurants to hire more staff from south Asia.

Mr Johnson had argued that unlimited immigration from Europe combined with efforts to curb overall numbers had caused a “crash” of Commonwealth arrivals, but he is reported to be among ministers willing to concede preferential access for EU migrants in return for a favourable EU trade deal. He was unavailable for comment today.

Skilled chefs can apply for a visa under current rules, but not if their restaurant provides takeaways. The Government has suggested that more people should be trained as curry chefs in Britain.